Five Frames and Ten Frames

Understanding that numbers are composed of tens and ones is an important foundational concept, setting the stage for work with larger numbers. A strong sense of "ten" is a prerequisite for place- value understanding and mental calculations. But how to develop this idea? 

Using a ten-frame, students can easily see that 6 is 1 more than 5 and 4 less than 10, or that 8 can be seen as "5 and 3 more" and as "2 away from 10." Once students are able to visualize the numbers 1

through 10, they begin to develop mental strategies for manipulating those numbers, all within the context of the numbers' relationship to ten.


Researcher John Van de Walle recommends that children in kindergarten and early first grade explore numbers with a five-frame for a week or so before moving on to a ten-frame. Introduce the ten- frame with the following rule, says Van de Walle: Always fill the top row first, starting on the left, the same way you read. When the top row is full, counters can be placed on the bottom row, also from the left. This will produce the "standard way" to show numbers on the ten-frame. (p. 122) 

To get started watch this wonderful short video on using 5 and 10 frames. 

Click on the images above to go to the interactive 5 and 10 frames at NCTM's Illuminations.