4 free ten frame worksheets
Free printable ten frame worksheets for kindergarten: count the dots 1-10 and 11-20, then draw dots to show a number. Builds number sense and making ten. PDF download.
A ten frame is a two-by-five grid that holds up to ten counters. It is one of the most useful tools in early maths because it lets children see numbers as “five and some more” or “ten and some more” instead of counting every dot one at a time. These four worksheets cover both directions of the skill: reading a ten frame and writing the number, and reading a number and filling the frame. Two sheets work with 1 to 10 on a single frame and two use double ten frames for the teen numbers.
What Students Will Practice
- Counting dots in a ten frame quickly by using the full top row of five as an anchor
- Writing the numeral that matches a set of dots
- Drawing the right number of dots, filling the top row first, then the bottom row
- Seeing teen numbers as one full ten frame plus extra dots (14 is ten and four)
- Recognising how many empty boxes are left, which is the foundation for making ten
Ten frames support Common Core K.CC.B.4 and K.CC.B.5 (counting to tell how many, up to 20 in a rectangular array), K.OA.A.4 (finding the number that makes 10) and K.NBT.A.1 (composing teen numbers as ten ones and some further ones).
Ten frame worksheet: show the number 11 to 20
Draw dots in two ten frames to show each teen number: a full ten and some more. Free printable PDF.
Ten frame worksheet: count the dots 11 to 20
Double ten frames for teen numbers; count the dots and write the number. Free printable PDF.
Ten frame worksheet: show the number 1 to 10
Read each number and draw that many dots in the empty ten frame. Free printable PDF.
Ten frame worksheet: count the dots 1 to 10
Ten filled ten frames; count the dots and write the number. Free printable PDF.
How to Use These Worksheets
Print at 100% on A4 or US Letter paper. If you have counters, buttons or coins, use them on the frame before writing anything.
- Sheet one: count the dots (1 to 10). Discourage counting one dot at a time. Ask “is the top row full?” If it is, that is five, so the child only needs to count the bottom row and add.
- Sheet two: show the number (1 to 10). Insist on filling the top row first, left to right, then the bottom row. This convention is what makes ten frames readable at a glance later on.
- Sheet three: count the dots (11 to 20). The first frame is always full. Say “ten” for the full frame, then count on: “ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen”.
- Sheet four: show the number (11 to 20). Ask your child to fill the whole first frame before touching the second. Then ask “how many more than ten is this?”
- Ask about the empty boxes. For every frame ask how many boxes are empty. A frame showing 7 has 3 empty boxes: 7 and 3 make 10. This is making ten, and it is the single most useful fact for later addition.
Common Mistakes to Watch For
- Counting every dot: Correct, but slow. Model “five and two more is seven” so the child hears the shortcut.
- Scattering dots randomly: A frame with dots in random boxes cannot be read quickly. Gently reset: top row first, no gaps.
- Writing 41 for fourteen: Reversing the digits of teen numbers is common because the ones digit is said first in English. Point at the full frame and say “one ten”, then the extra dots.
- Confusing 6 and 9 dot patterns: Both have a full top row. Count the bottom row slowly and check the total against the number of empty boxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a ten frame and why is it used?
A ten frame is a rectangle divided into ten boxes, two rows of five. Placing counters in it shows a number in relation to five and ten, which helps children subitise (see how many without counting) and later add and subtract by making ten.
What age are ten frame worksheets for?
Sheets one and two (1 to 10) suit pre-K and kindergarten, ages 4 to 6. Sheets three and four (11 to 20) are aimed at kindergarten and early first grade, once the child understands that a full frame means ten.
Should dots be drawn in a particular order?
Yes. Fill the top row from left to right, then the bottom row from left to right. This is the convention used in classrooms so that any ten frame can be read at a glance.
Can I use real counters instead of drawing?
Absolutely, and it is better for very young children. Print the “show the number” sheets, laminate them or use a plastic sleeve, and place buttons, coins or cereal on the frames before drawing.
What comes after ten frames?
Making ten (7 + 3, 6 + 4), then adding two numbers on a double ten frame (8 + 5 becomes 10 + 3), then place value with tens and ones. Number bonds worksheets are the natural next step.
Related Early Number Practice
Ten frames pair naturally with number bonds worksheets and doubles addition worksheets. For counting practice with pictures, see the count and colour worksheets, and for writing the numerals themselves the number tracing worksheets 1 to 20. Montessori families may also like the Montessori beads worksheets, which show quantities in a similar structured way.
