MA 4.01Combinations of Ten
The child finds every pair of colored bead bars that makes ten, lays each pair beside a golden ten bar, and records the pairs.
Age 4½Work 1 of 6 in Memorization of Facts
Presentation
- 1
Lay a golden ten bar on the mat.
- 2
Place the 9 bar below it: 'How much more do we need to make ten?' The child tries bars until the 1 bar fills the gap.
- 3
Say: 'Nine and one make ten.' Write 9 + 1 = 10.
- 4
Continue with 8, 7, 6, and 5, each under a new ten bar.
- 5
Show that 4 + 6 uses the same bars as 6 + 4.
- 6
The child reads all the pairs and records them.
Extensions, easiest to hardest
- Guide shows one bar; the child names its partner without trying bars.
- Record combinations of ten by drawing the two bead bars in their colors.
- Find all the pairs for other numbers, such as 7 or 8.
Control of error
The two bars laid end to end must match the length of the golden ten bar exactly.
Ready to move on when the child…
- Names the partner that makes ten for any number 1–9 without the beads
- Records all combinations of ten correctly