Apple Themed Addition & Subtraction Mats

After we had the apple counting mats I thought it would be fun to have some mats for adding and subtracting.

We have been exploring lots of different ways that we could do our math activities. I know that my youngest just loves playdough mats and the counting mats that have been in the printable packs. I wanted to do something different so I made these free ten frame mats with an apple theme for her.

Free Apple Themed Addition & Subtraction Mats: adding or subtracting using numbers 1 to 10 - 3Dinosaurs.com

Over the years the one thing I have noticed is that each of my girls learns at different levels. There is never just one way that each of them learns. I have changed and adapted my teaching as they grow. We have been working on ten frame counting over the last year, and my youngest has just loved it.

Plus my girls love seasonal changes for learning, and I love making fun new ways for them to learn.

Each of the mats has two ten frames for doing some hands-on math. Plus a tree to put apples on with the total number of apples added or subtracted.

Here is a look at how we used the mats. We used unifix cubes for the ten frames and pony beads for the apple trees. You can also use playdough or pom poms on the mats as well. There are numbers you can cut out and use on the equation or you can put the page in a sheet protectors or laminate them and use dry eraser markers to write in the equations.

There is a fun apple spinner with the set. You use a paperclip and pencil to make the spinner. When we use this on the subtraction mat we use the bigger of the two numbers of our spins for the first number in our equation. I make sure they understand which is bigger.