Addition with Animals — Kindergarten

This kindergarten sheet asks the child to add a group they can see to a number they can read. They count the cows, sheep and a hen in the picture, then count on that many more as the written number tells them, and write the total in the box. Half picture and half symbol, it is the natural step after counting two pictured groups — the child still counts to find the answer, but now one of the two amounts arrives as a numeral instead of a set of animals.

This is the bridge between counting and arithmetic. A child who can count a set of animals and then count on by a written number is connecting the concrete world of objects to the symbols that will stand in for them, and keeping every total within ten means the link can always be checked by counting rather than taken on trust.

Children who like animals settle into this quickly, and it suits a calm independent task or a counting game on the board. When the numbers feel easy, count a fresh group in addition with household things, or try addition with camping gear. You can also browse every addition worksheet or the whole animals collection for kindergarten — each sheet prints cleanly in black and white or plays online for free.