Give your students the tools they need to develop a strong conceptual understanding of addition with our hands-on and flexible Addition Number Story: Think Boards to 20. This comprehensive resource provides a range of scaffolded thinkboards designed to help students practise using a variety of addition strategies in meaningful contexts. With relatable number stories and multiple representations, students can visualise, verbalise, and model their mathematical thinking.

Each thinkboard guides students to represent the same number story in different ways - such as with a number sentence, a picture, MABs, 10 frames, bundling sticks, or a number line. This not only supports diverse learning styles but also deepens students’ understanding of how numbers work together.

Whether you're using them during small group maths lessons, in independent rotations, or as part of your fast finisher activities, these thinkboards are a practical and reusable addition to your classroom. Laminate for write-and-wipe activities, print as a maths journal booklet, or use selected pages to target specific addition strategies up to 20.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Use addition to solve number stories up to 20
• ✅ Represent addition problems in multiple ways
• ✅ Develop flexibility with number through visual and concrete strategies
• ✅ Strengthen problem-solving and mathematical reasoning
• ✅ Communicate mathematical thinking clearly through words, numbers, and visuals

What’s Included:

• Multiple pre-made Number Story Thinkboards covering addition to 20
• Visual prompts using MABs, 10 frames, number lines, bundling sticks, and more
• Black and white format for easy printing
• Options for booklet-making, individual worksheets, or rotation station use

Materials Needed:

• Printed thinkboards (on paper or card)
• Pencils or whiteboard markers if laminated
• Maths manipulatives (optional) such as MABs, counters, or bundling sticks
• Stapler or folder for creating student booklets
• Plastic sleeves or laminate sheets for reusable use

How to Use:

1. Choose a thinkboard that suits the target addition strategy or learning intention.
2. Read the number story with students and discuss what it means.
3. Guide students to complete the board by:
   • - Drawing the story
   • - Writing a number sentence
   • - Modelling with materials (10 frames, MABs, etc.)
   • - Placing the addition on a number line
4. Review and reflect on different student strategies during group sharing time.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use in small groups to target specific strategies (e.g. jump strategy or part-part-whole)
• 💡 Laminate and include in your write-and-wipe maths rotation tubs
• 💡 Add to your fast finisher station as an ongoing revision task
• 💡 Set as homework by sending home printed thinkboards for extra practise

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Use different coloured markers for each section of the thinkboard to visually separate ideas
• 💛 Print double-sided with matching strategy explanations on the back as a support scaffold
• 💛 Display a thinkboard example on your whiteboard to model before independent work begins
• 💛 Encourage students to explain their strategies aloud to promote mathematical language

Addition Number Story: Think Boards to 20 is the perfect resource for reinforcing addition concepts through consistent, varied, and visually engaging practise - making maths meaningful, flexible, and fun for every learner.