Hands-On Valentines Themed Addition & Subtraction Mats

There are always kids who just don’t do well with flashcards. No matter how many times we drill them on the same cards they just don’t get it. Hands-on mats are an excellent visual way to get them learning their math facts.

I just love these mats because they show the ten frame that will be used in a lot of school systems. You have the ten frames to fill out, the equation and a fun hands-on area to add them all up to!

These free Valentines Themed Addition & Subtractions mats are perfect for those kids that need hands-on activities to review or learn math facts.

Plus these match up nicely with the Valentines Counting Mats.

This is a part of the 7 Days of Valentines Printables.

FREE Hands-On Valentines Themed Addition & Subtraction Mats - two mats with counters for ten frame and arrows for cupid - 3Dinosaurs.com

I will admit that my girls all learn a different way. I know that my oldest hated ten frames and struggled with them. My middle was okay with them and my youngest just loves them. Everyone learns differently and it is nice to have something they can work with.

As I said my youngest just loves these hands-on mats. She likes to use different items in the ten frame, and then build the final number on the picture part. This time we loved giving cupid his arrows.

Here is a look at how I set up the mat for her to use.

I used heart buttons for the ten frames and we used the arrows from the pack for cupid. You could make some fun heart arrows for this if you have time. I have also used acrylic hearts and unifix cubes for the ten frames.

I put the pages in a sheet protectors when I’m low on laminating pouches or if I plan on using it in a binder for easy storage. I use dry erase markers on the numbers, but you have the option of cutting out the numbers in the set as well.

There is a fun heart spinner to go with the set. You use a paperclip and pencil to make the spinner. This gives kids something fun when using the mats.

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 number spun is larger.

One of my daughter’s, favorite ways to use the ten frames is to write in the numbers on the ten frame. This is a fun way to look at it. It is always fun to see how creative kids can be on their own.