how to teach addition and subtraction with tens - add the 1 to the tens place digit - fun way with song

Answer: To teach adding and subtracting tens in a fun way, use the place value rule: the ones digit stays constant while the tens digit increases or decreases by 1. Reinforce this with the rhyme: "Hop by ten, look once again! Ones stay still, tens jump the hill! Add ten: tens digit plus 1; Minus ten: tens digit minus 1!"

Step-by-step solution

Step 1: Understand the Place Value Rule for Tens

When adding or subtracting $10$ from any two-digit number, only the digit in the tens place changes by $1$ , while the ones place digit remains unchanged. For example, adding $10$ to $34$ means adding $1$ ten to $3$ tens to make $4$ tens, resulting in $44$ . Similarly, subtracting $10$ from $34$ reduces the tens digit from $3$ to $2$ , giving $24$ .

Step 2: Learn the Tens Place Rhyme and Song

Use a memorable pedagogical chant set to the rhythm of 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' or a march: 'Look at the ones, they stay right there! Look at the tens, jump in the air! Add a ten, make it one more; take ten away, one less in store!' Children physically stomp or jump whenever the tens digit increases or decreases by $1$ .

Step 3: Practice Mental Addition and Subtraction of Tens

Apply the rule directly on a hundreds chart or number line. For $52 + 10$ , focus on the tens digit $5$ ; increase it by $1$ to get $6$ , keeping $2$ in the ones place to make $62$ . For $52 - 10$ , decrease $5$ by $1$ to get $4$ , keeping $2$ in the ones place to reach $42$ .

Solve your own maths question free →