Adding Doubles is Week 4 of the mastering basic math addition plan for Grade 1. This could be a child’s favorite addition fact. Doubles are the same numbers being added together like 1+1, 2+2, 3+3 and so on. They can sound silly and fun.
Adding Doubles Teaching Strategies
The strategies below are just suggestions. It may work or may not work with your child. I suggest using one strategy at a time. If the strategy already works, stick to it. Having too many strategies can be confusing also. If your child has developed their own strategy to consistently arrive to the correct answer, use it as well. In fact, that may be the best strategy yet!
- Memorize. For some reasons, the sum of doubles are easy to remember. That might be a consequence of skip counting in earlier grades. There are only 10 addition facts to memorize. Some of them were even discussed in previous weeks like 0+0, 1+1, 2+2, 10+10 and 9+9. That leaves just 5 more addition facts to memorize.
- Visualize. Find familiar items that comes in doubles to help the child master these addition facts. See some examples below. Feel free to create your own that your child can relate to.
- 1+1 = 2 is like the pair of eyes. 1 eye on the left and 1 eye on the right.
- 2+2 = 4 is like the legs of a pet dog/cat. 2 legs in front and 2 legs at the back.
- 3+3 = 6 is like the legs of a 6-legged bug. 3 legs on the left and 3 legs on the right.
- 4+4 = 8 is like the legs of a spider. 4 legs on the left and 4 legs on the right.
- 5+5 = 10 is like the fingers on each hand. 5 fingers on the left and 5 fingers on the right.
- 6+6 = 12 is like the numbers on a clock.
- 7+7 = 14 is like days in week in a calendar. In a common calendar, the number below 7 is always 14.
- 8+8 = 16 is like the box of 16 crayons. There’s 8 in the first row and 8 in the second row.
- 10+10 = 20 is like the fingers and the toes. 10 fingers and 10 toes.
- Read these books. These books are fun to read and teaches the concept of doubling.
- Skip count. The answers for doubles addition corresponds to skip counting fo 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20. Let the child learn this also and point out that the answers for doubles addition can only come from this set of numbers.
Adding Doubles Worksheets
Use the worksheets below to practice adding doubles. I recommend having 2 worksheets per day only.
The first four worksheets below are good for 2 days of practice.
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The next four worksheets has a line for TIME. You can use this to time how fast your child can answer the 20 items correctly. The goal is to be fast and accurate at the same time. Thus, if the child makes a mistake, 10 seconds is added to the total time.
No need to set a time limit. Just use the time as a comparison with previous worksheets.
These timed tests are optional. You may opt not to take note of the time. Some experts believe that timed tests have a negative impact on kids. Aim for accuracy over speed.
- Speed Test – Adding Doubles Worksheet #1
- Speed Test – Adding Doubles Worksheet #2
- Speed Test – Adding Doubles Worksheet #3
- Speed Test – Adding Doubles Worksheet #4
Read also our 8-week Basic Math Addition Mastery Plan.
