We all know that a student’s ability to add fluently will help them succeed in so many other areas of math throughout their schooling. That’s why it is so important to give students many opportunities to practice their addition facts and build fluency at an early age.

I’m going to show you 8 ways students can practice their addition facts and build fluency without tons of extra prep for you!

What is Addition Fluency?

The first thing we need to understand is that fluency DOES NOT mean memorization. Students can be fluent in addition without having all of their addition facts memorized. Fluency means that the student can use their understandings of place value and addition properties (commutative property, associative property, etc.) to efficiently solve an addition problem.

For example, let’s say a student is asked to solve 9 + 4. The student does not have 9+4 memorized, but within a few seconds comes up with the solution. The student says, “The answer is 13!” When asked how the student knew the answer, they responded, “I took 1 away from the 4 to give to the 9. That meant I had 10 + 3. I know that 10+3 = 13.”

This student used their understanding of place value and adding on to decade numbers to solve this problem efficiently, even though they did not have the fact 9+4 memorized.

So How Do We Practice Addition Fluency?

In order for students to become fluent in addition, they need a LOT of practice. In my first grade classroom, I had an addition/subtraction fluency station in my math rotations for the WHOLE YEAR. Every day, students practiced addition and subtraction facts, no matter what we were learning in math that day.

There are two things to keep in mind when planning this much fact practice for your students.

Keep it fresh! Change up the fluency activities so students are engaged and excited to practice their addition facts.
Differentiate! Some students will become fluent in their math facts faster than others. Make sure you have built-in opportunities for differentiation to challenge all students.

With those thoughts in mind, let’s get to the low-prep fluency activities!

Activity #1: Whiteboard Addition with Dice or Spinner

This one is an oldie, but a goodie! Sometimes simple is best.

Materials Needed:

whiteboard
whiteboard marker & eraser
dice or spinner

How:

Students will roll two dice (or spin the spinner twice) to find the addends for their addition problem. Students write the addends on their whiteboard and find the sum. Repeat!

Differentiation Ideas:

Use 10 or 12 sided dice instead of 6 sided dice.
Use a spinner with teen numbers.
Use three dice instead of two for addition with three addends.

Keep this Activity Fresh:

Use big dice or inflatable dice.
Use colored dry erase markers.

Activity #2: Dice and Spinner Addition Fluency Game

This activity is just like activity #1, but provides a little more structure if your students need some guidance!

Click the image to grab this game!

Materials Needed:

addition fluency game directions
addition fluency game board
whiteboard marker or pencil
dice or spinner

How:

Choose a game board for your students. Choose between a dice and spinner game, using a dry erase marker or pencil, and rolling/spinning two addends or one addend.

If you choose a game board with one addend already filled in, students will roll one dice (or spin one time) to find the second addend and then find the sum. If you choose the game board with no addends, students will roll or spin to find both addends and then solve to find the sum.

Differentiation Ideas:

Use 10 or 12 sided dice instead of 6 sided dice.
Use a spinner with teen numbers.

Keep this Activity Fresh:

Use big dice or inflatable dice.

Use colored dry erase markers.

Another way to keep this activity fresh is to change the game! Here are some other no-prep addition games to practice addition fluency. Click the images below!

Activity #3: Playing Card Addition Partner Game

This activity adds the excitement of working with a partner! Students can compete or work together to practice addition facts.

Materials Needed:

playing cards

How:

Each student will have their own deck of playing cards. Each partner will turn over one playing card. Students can either compete to find the sum or take turns finding the sum of the two cards that were turned over.

Differentiation Ideas:

Turn over 3 cards for 3 addends.
Use the Jack, Queen, and King as teen numbers.

Keep this Activity Fresh:

Use a timer and see how fast they can go through the entire deck. See if they can beat their own time!

Activity #4: Interactive Digital Activities

It’s no secret that students love digital activities. If you are 1:1 or have enough devices for a digital math station, I highly recommend using digital activities to practice addition fluency.

Click the image to get this interactive addition activity for Google Slides.

Materials Needed:

tablet or computer
Google Slides

How:

For this interactive digital activity, students will open the activity in Google Slides. Students will move the interactive pieces to represent the addends and then find the sum.

Differentiation Ideas:

Use my Make Ten digital activity for students who are not ready to practice addition within 20.
Use my Missing Addend digital activity or Three Addends digital activity for students in need of a challenge.

Keep this Activity Fresh:

Keep students interested in this activity by offering a different version such as my Halloween interactive addition activity for Google Slides.

Activity #5: Handfuls of Counters or Cubes

This activity is great because it can be used with almost any math manipulative and it can be an independent or partner game!

Materials Needed:

two-sided counters or unifix cubes
whiteboard or paper
whiteboard marker or pencil

How:

If playing with a partner, each student will grab a handful of counters or cubes. Students will count the objects in their handful. If one student grabbed 5 counters and another student grabbed 7 counters, the students will write 5 + 7 on their whiteboard or paper. Then, students will find the sum. If playing independently, the student will grab two handfuls and follow the same procedure.

Differentiation Ideas:

To make this game easier you can limit the number of manipulatives the students have access to. For example, if a student is only adding within 10, only give them 10 counters.
To make this game more challenging try using three handfuls for three addends.

Keep this Activity Fresh:

Use different kinds of manipulatives! (Yes, this is the perfect time to break out those Target Dollar Spot erasers I know you have in your cupboard!) Something as simple as exchanging counters for mini pizza erasers really does keep students excited about the activity!

Activity #6: Color by Addition Worksheets

The past few years I have had classes that LOVE to draw and color. Color by addition worksheets are one of my favorite low-prep activities to practice addition fluency.

Materials Needed:

color by addition worksheet
crayons, colored pencils, or markers

How:

Print a color by addition worksheet of your choice! I suggest mine. ;) Students will find sums for addition facts and color the picture according to the code.

Differentiation Ideas:

My color by addition worksheets come with three levels: add within 10, add within 15, and add within 20. You can print the worksheets that fit the needs of each student.
Provide manipulatives for students who need that support.

Keep this Activity Fresh:

Use different themes throughout the year to keep students excited about color by addition worksheets! Click the images below to try some themed worksheets.

Activity #7: Whiteboard Reveal Partner Game

This is another simple but effective activity. Students love practicing with a partner and as a teacher, I love not prepping ANYTHING for this activity!

Materials Needed:

whiteboards
whiteboard markers & erasers

How:

Each student will have a whiteboard and hide their whiteboard from their partner. Each student will write a number on their whiteboard. Then, the partners will count down from 3 and reveal their numbers. Students will take the two revealed numbers and write an addition fact. For example, if student #1 writes 3 and student #2 writes 8, the students will be solving 3 + 8. Students will solve their addition fact on their whiteboards and then compare answers. Repeat!

Differentiation Ideas:

Give students an upper or lower limit for their number. For example, let a pair of students know they have to write a number larger than 5.

Keep this Activity Fresh:

Use colored whiteboard markers.
Let students add a noun after their number. Partners can take turns picking a noun. For example, student #1 chooses “popsicles” as the noun, student #1 might write 4 popsicles and student #2 might write 7 popsicles. Then, the sum is 11 popsicles. This gives students a chance to be silly with their noun choice to make it more fun, but it’s also a good reminder to label their answer when solving word problems!

Activity #8: Task Cards

My favorite thing about task cards is that they are so versatile! My favorite way to use task cards is to hang them around the room and allow students to use a clipboard and “solve the room.”

Materials Needed:

task cards
recording sheet
pencil

How:

Students will solve the addition problem on each task card and write the sum on their recording sheet.

Differentiation Ideas:

Use missing addend or three addend task cards for students who are ready for a challenge.
Allow students to use notecards to create and solve their own task cards.

Keep this Activity Fresh:

Use task cards in different ways to keep students engaged. Maybe this week you will hang task cards around the room but next week you will use them to play Scoot. Change it up!
Try other addition fluency task cards. Click the images below to try some other addition fluency task cards!

…and more!

Of course there are so many more ways to practice addition facts and build addition fluency, but I hope I’ve sparked some ideas and you’re ready to help your students practice, practice, practice!

Remember, fluency is not about memorization, but repetition is important! Make sure your students have plenty of opportunities to practice addition facts and keep it fun!