Looking for a hands-on and engaging way to practise addition strategies? Addition within 20 Task Cards: Missing Tomatoes is a fun, tomato-themed resource that helps students identify missing addends and strengthen their understanding of part-part-whole relationships. With a strong focus on strategy and reasoning, this activity is perfect for students working on fluency with addition to 20.

This resource includes 100 interactive task cards that encourage students to analyse an addition equation with one missing part. Each card displays a tomato with the total sum already given. Students are then challenged to determine the missing addend and write their answer on the tomato basket using a whiteboard marker, pencil, or peg. It’s a highly visual and tactile way to build number sense and strategic thinking.

These task cards are ideal for small group maths rotations, independent work, or even warm-up practise. Print and laminate for a reusable write-and-wipe activity, or include in a strategy station with number lines, counters, or ten frames. With a fun vegetable theme and scaffolded practise built in, your students will be counting, calculating, and collecting missing tomatoes in no time!

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Identify missing addends in number sentences within 20
• ✅ Strengthen understanding of part-part-whole relationships
• ✅ Use mental strategies to solve basic addition problems
• ✅ Build fluency and confidence in early number facts
• ✅ Develop reasoning and problem-solving skills

What’s Included:

• 100 interactive task cards with tomato-themed artwork
• Each card includes a sum with one missing addend
• Student response area on each card (tomato basket)
• Print-friendly black and white or colour option
• Designed for use with dry-erase markers, pegs, or pencils

Materials Needed:

• Printed task cards (paper or card recommended)
• Laminator or plastic sleeves for reusability
• Whiteboard markers or pencils
• Optional: counters, number lines, or ten frames for support
• Storage container or zip-lock bags for organisation

How to Use:

1. Print, cut, and laminate the task cards.
2. Students choose a card and read the addition sentence with the missing addend.
3. They identify the total on the tomato and the known part.
4. Using a mental strategy or support tools, students determine the missing number.
5. They write their answer in the basket using a whiteboard marker or pencil.
6. Repeat with multiple cards for added fluency practise.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Include in small group maths sessions focusing on part-part-whole strategies
• 💡 Add to a rotation station with number lines and counters for scaffolding
• 💡 Use as a quick check-in or warm-up to review addition facts
• 💡 Turn it into a game: how many tomatoes can you complete in five minutes?
• 💡 Pair students up for peer teaching or partner challenge rounds

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Use colour printing and laminate for vibrant, long-lasting cards
• 💛 Organise cards into small sets by difficulty or strategy type
• 💛 Encourage students to say their number sentence aloud to reinforce mental strategies
• 💛 Keep a few in a fast finisher tub or as a brain break activity

Addition within 20 Task Cards: Missing Tomatoes is a bright, hands-on resource that builds addition fluency while helping students explore number relationships in a meaningful and playful way.