Addition with Pets — Kindergarten

Addition starts as a counting story, and that is just what each row tells: here are some cats, dogs and a rabbit, here are some more, how many altogether? The child counts the first group, counts on through the second, and writes the total in the empty box. With the amounts kept small and every one of the pets shown as a picture, the meaning of the plus sign — two groups becoming one — is something a kindergartner can see, not only be told.

Counting two groups and then saying how many there are in all is the first real step into addition. Long before a symbol means anything, a child who combines one pile of pets with another and recounts the whole set is already adding — and keeping totals within ten means every answer can be checked by counting rather than guessed.

Children who enjoy pets take to this one quickly, and it works just as well as a quiet morning task or a count-along on the board. When the set feels easy, count a different collection in addition with post office, or try addition with tools. You can also browse every addition worksheet or the whole pets collection for kindergarten — each sheet prints cleanly in black and white or plays online for free.