Activities to Teach Students to Break Apart a Two-Digit Number to Add – Sums to 100

When it comes to teaching math, one of the more challenging concepts for students is breaking apart numbers to add. Specifically, teaching students to break apart a two-digit number to add sums to 100 can prove to be a difficult process. However, with the right activities, teachers can help their students to master this concept.
One fun activity to teach students how to break apart two-digit numbers to add sums to 100 is by using a deck of cards. To play this game, have students draw two cards, one at a time (without replacement). Students will then need to break apart each number into tens and ones, add the tens together, and then add the ones together, creating two numbers. Finally, students will add these two numbers together to get the total sum. For example, if a student draws a 4 and a 9, they would break apart the numbers into 40 + 9, which equals 49. This activity will help students to realize that breaking apart numbers can make addition much easier.
Another effective way to teach students to break apart two-digit numbers to add sums to 100 is through the use of manipulatives. Using base 10 blocks, for example, students can visually see how breaking apart numbers can make addition simpler. Begin by giving your students a two-digit number and having them break it apart using their base 10 blocks. Then, have them break apart the addend number in the same way. Finally, the students can combine their two groups of blocks to get the total sum, reinforcing the idea that breaking apart a two-digit number to add can make the process easier.
A third activity to teach students to break apart two-digit numbers to add sums to 100 is by using break-apart sticks. These are long sticks that can be broken apart into different segments. Each stick can be labeled with a number from 1-9, and students can use these sticks to help break apart numbers. For example, if a student was given the number 56, they could use their break-apart sticks to create the number 50 + 6. Students can also use these sticks to create double-digit numbers, which can help them with adding larger sums.
Breaking apart a two-digit number to add sums to 100 can be a challenging concept for students to grasp. However, by using fun and engaging activities like these, teachers can help their students to master this concept. By giving students multiple opportunities to practice breaking apart numbers, they will gain confidence in their math abilities and be well equipped to take on more advanced math concepts in the future.