Gumball Games

This worksheet allows students to practice addition by creating number combinations that match a given total. Learners write numbers inside the gumballs to represent two addends that equal the target sum. The activity supports addition strategies, number relationships, and flexible mathematical thinking. It is designed for kindergarten and first grade learners.

Learning Goals

• Addition Reasoning: Students explore multiple ways to create a given sum using two addends.
• Part-Part-Whole Understanding: Learners deepen understanding of how parts combine to make a whole number.
• Number Relationships: Students recognize that numbers can be composed in more than one correct way.

Instructional Benefits

• The open-ended design encourages creative thinking while still reinforcing accurate addition skills.
• Teachers can easily differentiate instruction by accepting multiple correct number combinations.
• The visual gumball machines make abstract addition concepts more concrete and approachable.
• This print-and-go worksheet supports both classroom instruction and at-home math practice.

This worksheet promotes flexibility in thinking about numbers. Students learn that addition problems can have multiple valid solutions. The activity builds confidence with composing numbers. It supports deeper conceptual understanding of addition.