Kindergarten · Math · Parent guide
Find the Number That Makes 10K.OA.A.4
Short answer. K.OA.A.4 asks your child to find the partner that makes 10, like 7 needs 3. Why tens partners matter for first grade math and easy ways to practice.
- Grade
- Kindergarten Learning level
- Subject
- Math Skill area
- Framework
- Common Core State standards guide
Quick answer
What K.OA.A.4 means in plain English
Give your child any number from 1 to 9 and he finds its partner, the number that joins it to make exactly 10. Hear 7, answer 3. Hear 4, answer 6. In kindergarten he gets there with props, holding up 7 fingers and counting the 3 still down, or filling a two-row frame of 10 dots, and he records the pair with a drawing or an equation like 7 + 3 = 10. Recall does not need to be instant this year; finding the partner reliably is the goal.
Why parents see this skill
Why this matters
Our whole number system is built on tens, so these pairs get used constantly. The first grade strategy for 8 + 5 is "take 2 from the 5 to make 10, then add the 3 left over," and that move only works if 8-needs-2 is sitting right there. Kids who own their tens partners do mental math; kids who do not keep counting on fingers into third grade.
For reference
The official wording
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.OA.A.4For any number from 1 to 9, find the number that makes 10 when added to the given number, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record the answer with a drawing or equation.Official Common Core source
See it, then try it
How this skill can look at home
You do not need a lesson plan. Look for these signs in ordinary play, reading, and conversation, then choose one short activity.
What you may notice
- Your child uses his fingers as a built-in ten: 6 up, glances at the 4 down, and names the partner.
- He answers "what goes with 9 to make 10?" quickly, with 1 being the first pair most kids own.
- He fills a 10-space container, like an egg carton cut to 10, and states both parts without recounting.
- He writes or completes make-10 equations like 4 + 6 = 10 with a drawing to back them up.
Simple ways to practice
- 01
Finger Flash Partners
Hold up some fingers, say 7, and ask, "how many more to make 10?" His own two hands are a free ten-frame: 7 up means 3 down, and the answer is literally visible. Do 5 flashes at breakfast. When he starts answering before checking his hands, the pairs are moving into memory, which is exactly the trajectory you want.
- 02
Egg Carton Tens
Cut an egg carton down to 10 cups. Drop in some pom-poms or cereal pieces, say 6, and hand it over: "Fill it up. How many did you need?" He fills 4 cups and announces the pair, 6 and 4 make 10. Write the equation on a scrap together. The carton makes the missing part something he can see and touch instead of imagine.
- 03
Partner Hunt with Cards
Lay out ace through 9 from a deck face up. You point to a card; he slaps its make-10 partner. Then reverse roles. Once that is easy, play memory-style: flip two cards, keep them if they total 10. Ten minutes, one deck, and every kindergarten pair from 1 + 9 to 5 + 5 gets a workout.
Choose what helps today
Related guides, activities, and practice
Start with the domain guide for context, use the learning library when a concept needs explaining, or print a page when your child is ready to practice.
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Open resource
Frequently asked questions
Why does making 10 matter so much in kindergarten math?
Ten is the base for so much later math. When a child knows that 8 needs 2 more or 6 needs 4 more, larger addition starts to feel less mysterious. This is one of the first places where children begin using number relationships instead of counting every single item.
How is K.OA.A.4 different from K.OA.A.3?
K.OA.A.3 is about breaking numbers up in different ways, like seeing 5 as 2 and 3. K.OA.A.4 focuses specifically on the pairs that make 10. It is a narrower skill, but it becomes very useful for later addition strategies.
My child still counts on each time. Is that okay?
Yes, counting on is a normal step. Memory usually grows after a child has seen the same pairs many times with objects, drawings, and ten frames. If your child can find the answer, even slowly, the understanding is building.
Should I make my child memorize the partners of 10?
Light memory practice is fine, but do not rush past meaning. Let your child build the pairs with cheerios, counters, fingers, or drawings first. Quick recall is much more likely to stick when the number pair already makes sense.
Which Whizki worksheets help with K.OA.A.4?
Start with kindergarten addition and subtraction worksheets when your child is ready for missing partners and sums to 10. If that feels too hard, use counting and number sense worksheets first. A strong feel for groups of 10 makes this skill much easier.
Keep the sequence
More standards in K.OA
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