28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (2024)

Math

Grades:

Elementary School

They all add up to fun!

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (1)

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (2)

ByJill Staake, B.S., Secondary ELA Education

Jun 4, 2024

1 + 1 = 2. It’s the basic foundation for every child’s math education and the building block to a whole world of learning. Addition is usually the first of the four operations that kids tackle, and mastering it is key to success for years to come. Try these fun addition activities in the classroom or at home to help your students become math wizards in no time!

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Hands-On Addition Activities and Games
Online Addition Games

Hands-On Addition Activities and Games

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (3)

Build math block towers

Lay out flash cards, and then use blocks to create towers that answer the problems. Addition activities like this incorporate visual and hands-on techniques, honoring a variety of learning strategies.

Learn more: Math Block Towers

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28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (4)

Make a dice calculator

This is bound to be a ton of fun! Kids drop a die through each cup, then add up the numbers that fall through. So simple and so enjoyable.

Learn more: Dice Calculator

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (5)

Create an addition apple tree

Hands-on addition activities really make learning stick. Learn how to make and use this adorable addition apple tree at the link.

Learn more: Addition Apple Tree

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (6)

Use stickers for hands-on practice

Sticker dots are inexpensive—you can usually pick them up at the dollar store. Little ones will really get a kick out of using them to answer a series of addition problems.

Learn more: Dot Sticker Addition Activity

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (8)

Thread beads onto pipe cleaners

You can use pipe cleaners and beads for a variety of addition activities. In this one, put beads at opposite ends of a pipe cleaner, then bend them together and solve the equation.

Learn more: Pipe Cleaner Addition

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (9)

Deal Uno cards

Use Uno cards or a regular deck with the face cards removed for this addition game. Simply lay out two cards and add the numbers together!

Learn more: Uno Addition Game

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (10)

Cut out addition flowers

This pretty math craft gives kids a chance to work on addition activities like number bonds and mastering math facts. Get the free printable at the link.

Learn more: Flower Addition Activity

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (11)

Finger-paint addition clouds

What a sweet idea! Write addition problems on clouds, then use finger paints to add the correct number of raindrops underneath.

Learn more: Addition Clouds

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (12)

Use sticky notes to make 10

Sticky notes have so many uses in the classroom. Write individual numbers on them, then use the notes to “make 10” or any other number you choose.

Learn more: Make Ten With Sticky Notes

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (13)

Practice regrouping with LEGO bricks

When you’re ready to move on to slightly more advanced addition activities, use LEGO bricks to help kids understand the concept of regrouping. (Find many more LEGO math ideas here.)

Learn more: LEGO Addition

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (14)

Toss a beach ball

Jot numbers all over a beach ball using a Sharpie. Then, toss it to a student, and wherever their thumbs land, have them add up the two closest numbers. Ready for trickier addition activities? Add up all the numbers their fingers are touching!

Learn more: Beach Ball Math

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (15)

Twist up pool noodle equations

Who knew you could use pool noodles for so many cool things in the classroom? We love this interchangeable equation maker, perfect for practicing addition facts.

Learn more: Teach Simple Equations Using Pool Noodles

Assemble Play-Doh addition spiders

Nothing scary about these little spiders! They’re just here to help kids practice their math facts. Insert pipe cleaner legs and find the total.

Learn more: Play Dough Spider Addition Game

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (17)

Try mini-clothespins and wood craft sticks

This idea uses wood craft sticks and mini-clothespins. It’s a nice way to work in some fine motor skill practice too.

Learn more: Clothes Pin Addition

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (18)

Pull out the dominoes

Here’s an easy one! Just turn dominoes sideways and they become math problems to be solved. Say them out loud, or write the equations for more practice.

Learn more: Domino Addition

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (19)

Grab a handful of toys

Kids will like the mystery element in this addition activity. Fill bags with small toys or mini erasers, then have them grab a handful from each and add them together.

Learn more: Grab Bag Addition

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (20)

Color by number

Pull out the crayon box—it’s time to color by number! The twist? Kids have to solve the equations first to learn the right colors to pick. Get the free printables at the link.

Learn more: Color by Code Addition

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (21)

Add and sort dominoes

You can do a variety of addition activities with dominoes. For this version, lay out a number line, then sort the dominoes by the sum of their two sides.

Learn more: Domino Line-Up Math Activity

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (22)

Battle it out in Double Dice War

Have you ever seen dice-in-dice? They’re so cool, and kids can’t get enough of them. Play addition war by having each student roll a die and add the numbers together. The one with the higher sum wins. Got a tie? Break it by looking at the number on the outside die.

Learn more: Dice Games and Activities

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (23)

Pick up some pom-poms

Use double dice or regular ones along with a package of pom-poms for this easy addition activity. Or try it with goldfish crackers for a tasty way to learn!

Learn more: Pom-Pom Addition

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (24)

Flip a flash card pancake

These pancakes aren’t very tasty, but they’re definitely a clever take on traditional flash cards. Kids will have fun flipping them with a spatula to check their answers.

Learn more: Addition Pancakes

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (25)

Be the first to fill your grid

Get the free printable game boards for this fun addition game at the link. Kids roll the dice and try to be the first to make sums that fill in their grids.

Learn more: Fill Your Grid

Free Online Addition Games

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (26)

Addition Puzzle Pics

Click and drag the puzzle pieces to answer the math questions, revealing a cool picture at the end. There are multiple versions for different skills and levels, and you can change the target sums too.

Play it:Puzzle Pics

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (27)

Math Pac-Man

Classic arcade game meets math! You’ll have to think fast to solve the equation and eat the right ghost. Try this one in pairs with one student solving and the other moving Pac-Man as fast as they can.

Play it:Math Pac-Man

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (28)

Canoe Puppies

Can your puppy-filled canoe beat the others to the finish line? Solve the equations quickly to paddle your way to victory. Students practice two-digit addition with this game.

Play it:Canoe Puppies

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (29)

Plus 10

What if the ever-popular game Candy Crush was educational too? Wish granted! Match two squares to make 10, and they disappear from the board. This one will keep kids clicking (and practicing math facts) for hours.

Play it: Plus 10

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (30)

Number Bonds

Choose a target sum between 10 and 20. Then, aim and shoot the center number ball at one of the balls circling the track to make the target sum. Repeat until all the balls are gone.

Play it:Number Bonds to 20

Looking for more smart ways to teach addition? Check out Number Bond Activities To Help Kids Develop Number Sense.

28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (31)

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28 Free Hands-On Addition Activities and Online Games (2024)

FAQs

What is online game addition? ›

Video game addiction, also called internet gaming disorder, is a condition characterized by severely reduced control over gaming habits, resulting in negative consequences in many aspects of your life, including self-care, relationships, school and work.

How can I make my teaching addition fun? ›

Addition Activities for Kids
  1. Addition Card Game. ...
  2. Use Addition Flashcards. ...
  3. Play Adding Jenga. ...
  4. Ladybug Addition Activity. ...
  5. Use Beads and Cards for Adding. ...
  6. Make a Coat Hanger and Clothespins Addition Machine. ...
  7. Create a Shoe Box Addition Machine. ...
  8. Put Together Polygon Puzzles — Addition Style.
Jul 14, 2022

What is addition in math for grade 1? ›

Addition is when you put together two or more numbers together to find the total amount. The result of adding two or more numbers is called the sum. So, you would add your 4 cookies and James' 4 cookies to find that the sum is 8 cookies. In math, this would be written as 4 + 4 = 8.

What is online games example? ›

Some examples of online gaming would be sports wagering, fantasy sports, online lottery tickets, keno, and casino games such as poker, roulette, and slots.

What do you mean by online games? ›

Online games refer to games that are played over some form of computer network, most often the Internet. Online games can range from simple text-based games to games incorporating complex graphics and virtual worlds populated by many players simultaneously.

How to teach addition using games? ›

Addition math games
  1. Use a regular card deck to play an addition card game. Card games are a great way to teach math concepts. ...
  2. Turn dominoes sideways to make addition equations. ...
  3. Play a class-wide game of around the world. ...
  4. Toss around an addition beach ball. ...
  5. Monkey in the middle.
Feb 22, 2022

How do teachers teach addition? ›

They may draw pictures, use counters or cubes, use their fingers, or even use five or ten frames. Students will need exposure to different types of addition problems such as add to, put together, or compare problems where they could be looking to find either a sum or a missing addend in the problem.

Which symbol is used for addition? ›

The symbol used for addition is “+”.

What is the addition rule for kids? ›

When we add two-digit numbers, we need to add one's place digits first and then ten's place digits. If the numbers in the one's place are added we get the sum as a two-digit number which is more than 9 then that number contains tens and ones.

How to teach maths to a 5 year old? ›

How to help at home
  1. Count objects around the house. When counting, encourage your child to point to each object, putting them in a row. ...
  2. Play dice games. Gather some objects – blocks, buttons, even biscuits! Roll two dice and find the total, using the objects to add practically. ...
  3. Use toys.

What's the hardest math problem? ›

10 World's Hardest Math Problems With Solutions and Examples That Will Blow Your Mind
  • The Four Color Theorem.
  • Fermat's Last Theorem.
  • The Monty Hall Problem.
  • The Travelling Salesman Problem.
  • The Twin Prime Conjecture.
  • The Poincaré Conjecture.
  • The Goldbach Conjecture.
  • The Riemann Hypothesis.
Aug 31, 2023

How can I practice math online for free? ›

Created by experts, Khan Academy's library of trusted, standards-aligned practice and lessons covers math K-12 through early college, grammar, science, history, AP®, SAT®, and more. It's all free for learners and teachers.

Who created math? ›

The Sumerians hold the credit for devising the first counting system. It is widely accepted among scientists that fundamental mathematical operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division have been in use for over 4,000 years. Clay tablets bearing such knowledge served as textbooks in those times.

What is online add? ›

Online advertising, also known as online marketing, Internet advertising, digital advertising or web advertising, is a form of marketing and advertising that uses the Internet to promote products and services to audiences and platform users.

What is the definition of online game addiction? ›

Video game addiction is defined as the steady and repetitive use of the Internet to play games frequently with different gamers, potentially leading to negative consequences in many aspects of life.

What are gaming add ons? ›

In video games, add-ons can offer new levels, characters, or customization options. Other examples include plugins for image editing software, virtual instruments for music production software, or additional templates for presentation software.

What is a game addon? ›

Addons are additional content that enhances games, such as card decks, maps, single encounters, and ongoing adventures.

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