- Definition
Addition is when you combine two or more numbers to find their total, like putting two groups of toys together to see how many you have in all.
Putting 2 apples and 3 apples together to make 5 apples is addition.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Addition is like putting two piles of your favorite blocks together to make one bigger pile.
Ask your child: What happens when you put your blocks and my blocks together?
Common mix-up: Kids may think addition is just counting everything they see. The key idea is that addition is the action of putting groups together to find out how many there are in all.
Examples
- Adding the number of red cars and blue cars you have to find the total.
- Counting three friends who are already playing, and two more friends who join them.
addition is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
+12 more mentions across the curriculum
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
