Lesson Plan
Addition Mastery
Students will efficiently add multi-digit whole numbers using place value alignment, partial sums, and number bonds, demonstrating accuracy and strategy selection by solving problems independently.
Mastering addition strategies builds fluency, deepens number sense, and boosts confidence for complex operations and real-world tasks like budgeting or scoring games.
Audience
5th Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Blend direct modeling with hands-on stations and formative exit tickets.
Materials
- Place Value Chart Handout, - Partial Sums Strategy Guide, - Number Bonds Cards, - Whiteboards and Dry-Erase Markers, and - Exit Ticket: Addition Check
Prep
Prepare Materials
5 minutes
- Print and/or laminate the Place Value Chart Handout
- Review examples in the Partial Sums Strategy Guide
- Cut and sort the Number Bonds Cards into student sets
- Gather whiteboards, dry-erase markers, and prepare the Exit Ticket: Addition Check slips
Step 1
Warm-Up: Number Bond Decomposition
5 minutes
- Display a two-step addition problem on the board
- Students use Number Bonds Cards to break each addend into parts
- Volunteers share how decomposing made the sum easier
Step 2
Direct Instruction: Place Value Alignment
7 minutes
- Model aligning digits on the Place Value Chart Handout
- Solve an example step by step, highlighting carryovers
- Ask guiding questions on why alignment matters
Step 3
Strategy Focus: Partial Sums Exploration
7 minutes
- Introduce the Partial Sums Strategy Guide
- Walk through adding hundreds, tens, then ones separately
- Partners solve one problem together, explaining their partial sums
Step 4
Independent Practice: Station Rotation
7 minutes
- Set up three stations: chart alignment, partial sums, and number bonds
- At each station, students solve two problems on whiteboards
- Teacher circulates to prompt and correct misconceptions
Step 5
Closure: Exit Ticket Assessment
4 minutes
- Distribute Exit Ticket: Addition Check
- Students complete one multi-digit addition using any learned strategy
- Collect tickets to gauge mastery and plan follow-up
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Slide Deck
Sum It Up Station
Mastering Multi-Digit Addition in 5th Grade | 30 Minutes
Welcome everyone! Today we’re diving into multi-digit addition strategies. Tell students this is a hands-on lesson with stations. Remind them to listen, participate, and have fun mastering these skills.
Learning Objectives
• Efficiently add multi-digit numbers using place value alignment
• Use partial sums to break addition into parts
• Apply number bonds to decompose addends and recombine
Read the objectives aloud. Encourage students to think about which strategy they’re most curious to try. Point out that they’ll practice all three today.
Why This Matters
• Builds number sense and mental math fluency
• Prepares for subtraction, multiplication, and division
• Connects to real-world tasks like budgeting or game scoring
Discuss why addition fluency matters: budgeting allowances, keeping score in games, and solving everyday problems. Invite one or two examples from students.
Warm-Up: Number Bond Decomposition
- Use Number Bonds Cards to break each addend into tens and ones
- Add the tens parts, then the ones parts
- Combine your sums for the final answer
Project a simple problem (e.g., 47 + 36). Show students how to use the Number Bonds Cards to split 47 into 40+7 and 36 into 30+6. Ask volunteers to share how decomposition helped.
Strategy 1: Place Value Alignment
• Write numbers in hundreds, tens, ones columns
• Add ones, record carry if needed
• Add tens plus carry, then hundreds
• Example: 458 + 367 = ___
Model aligning digits on the Place Value Chart Handout. Solve 458 + 367 step by step, emphasizing column addition and carry-over. Ask: “Why must these align?”
Strategy 2: Partial Sums Exploration
- Add the hundreds: 400 + 300 = 700
- Add tens: 50 + 60 = 110
- Add ones: 8 + 7 = 15
- Sum partial sums: 700 + 110 + 15 = ___
Introduce the Partial Sums Strategy Guide. Walk through 458 + 367 by adding hundreds (400+300), tens (50+60), then ones (8+7). Show how to combine those partial sums.
Strategy 3: Number Bonds Method
• Decompose each addend into hundreds, tens, ones
• Add hundreds together, tens together, ones together
• Combine those results for final sum
• Example: (400+300)+(50+60)+(8+7) = ___
Revisit number bonds now as a full strategy. Demonstrate decomposing 458 into 400+50+8 and 367 into 300+60+7. Combine like parts and sum step by step.
Independent Practice Stations
Station 1: Place Value Alignment (Place Value Chart Handout)
Station 2: Partial Sums (Partial Sums Strategy Guide)
Station 3: Number Bonds (Number Bonds Cards)
Rotate every 2 minutes; record answers on whiteboards
Explain station rotation: students will spend ~2 minutes at each station solving two problems. You will circulate to offer feedback and prompt deeper thinking.
Exit Ticket Assessment
Complete one multi-digit addition problem using any learned strategy. Write your work on the Exit Ticket: Addition Check and hand it in.
Distribute the exit tickets now. Remind students they can choose any strategy they prefer. Collect tickets as they finish to assess mastery.
Great Work!
• Keep practicing your favorite strategies
• Next lesson: Applying these to subtraction & quick estimates
See you next time!
Congratulate students on their hard work. Preview that next time they’ll use these strategies for subtraction and estimation.
Worksheet
Addition Practice
Instructions
Complete the following problems using the indicated strategies. Show all your work and label each step clearly.
Section 1: Place Value Alignment
Use the Place Value Chart Handout to align digits in columns and add.
- 347 + 589 = ___
- 762 + 438 = ___
- 1,254 + 798 = ___
- 3,405 + 2,967 = ___
Section 2: Partial Sums
Use the Partial Sums Strategy Guide to break apart and add by place value.
- 483 + 269 = ___
- 1,126 + 754 = ___
- 2,035 + 1,489 = ___
Section 3: Number Bonds
Use the Number Bonds Cards to decompose each addend into hundreds, tens, and ones before adding.
- 568 + 374 = ___
- 1,097 + 823 = ___
- 2,450 + 1,575 = ___
Section 4: Mixed Challenge
Choose any strategy (alignment, partial sums, or number bonds). Show all steps.
- 3,289 + 4,716 = ___
- 7,405 + 6,389 = ___
- Create your own multi-digit addition problem and solve it using one of the strategies above. Write your problem, then solve:
Bonus: Mental Math Check
Solve mentally first, then verify with any learned strategy.
5,832 + 4,167 = ___
When you finish, review your answers and prepare to show your work on the Exit Ticket: Addition Check.
Answer Key
Addition Practice Key
Use this answer key to check student work and provide clear, step-by-step feedback for each problem.
Section 1: Place Value Alignment
(Use the Place Value Chart Handout to align digits)
- 347 + 589
• Align in columns:
Hundreds Tens Ones
3 4 7- 5 8 9
———————————
• Add Ones: 7 + 9 = 16 → write 6, carry 1
• Add Tens: 4 + 8 + 1 (carry) = 13 → write 3, carry 1
• Add Hundreds: 3 + 5 + 1 (carry) = 9
Answer: 936
- 5 8 9
- 762 + 438
• Columns:
Hundreds Tens Ones
7 6 2- 4 3 8
• Ones: 2 + 8 = 10 → 0, carry 1
• Tens: 6 + 3 + 1 = 10 → 0, carry 1
• Hundreds: 7 + 4 + 1 = 12
Answer: 1,200
- 4 3 8
- 1,254 + 798
• Columns:
Thousands Hundreds Tens Ones
1 2 5 4- 0 7 9 8
• Ones: 4 + 8 = 12 → 2, carry 1
• Tens: 5 + 9 + 1 = 15 → 5, carry 1
• Hundreds: 2 + 7 + 1 = 10 → 0, carry 1
• Thousands: 1 + 0 + 1 = 2
Answer: 2,052
- 0 7 9 8
- 3,405 + 2,967
• Columns:
Thousands Hundreds Tens Ones
3 4 0 5- 2 9 6 7
• Ones: 5 + 7 = 12 → 2, carry 1
• Tens: 0 + 6 + 1 = 7
• Hundreds: 4 + 9 = 13 → 3, carry 1
• Thousands: 3 + 2 + 1 = 6
Answer: 6,372
- 2 9 6 7
Section 2: Partial Sums
(Use the Partial Sums Strategy Guide)
- 483 + 269
• Hundreds: 400 + 200 = 600
• Tens: 80 + 60 = 140
• Ones: 3 + 9 = 12
• Sum: 600 + 140 + 12 = 752 - 1,126 + 754
• Hundreds: 1,100 + 700 = 1,800
• Tens: 20 + 50 = 70
• Ones: 6 + 4 = 10
• Sum: 1,800 + 70 + 10 = 1,880 - 2,035 + 1,489
• Thousands: 2,000 + 1,000 = 3,000
• Hundreds: 0 + 400 = 400
• Tens: 30 + 80 = 110
• Ones: 5 + 9 = 14
• Sum: 3,000 + 400 + 110 + 14 = 3,524
Section 3: Number Bonds
(Use the Number Bonds Cards)
- 568 + 374
• Decompose: (500 + 60 + 8) + (300 + 70 + 4)
• Add hundreds: 500 + 300 = 800
• Add tens: 60 + 70 = 130
• Add ones: 8 + 4 = 12
• Combine: 800 + 130 + 12 = 942 - 1,097 + 823
• Decompose: (1,000 + 0 + 97) + (800 + 20 + 3)
• Add thousands/hundreds: 1,000 + 800 = 1,800
• Add tens: 0 + 20 = 20
• Add ones: 97 + 3 = 100
• Combine: 1,800 + 20 + 100 = 1,920 - 2,450 + 1,575
• Decompose: (2,000 + 400 + 50) + (1,000 + 500 + 75)
• Add thousands: 2,000 + 1,000 = 3,000
• Add hundreds: 400 + 500 = 900
• Add tens & ones: 50 + 75 = 125
• Combine: 3,000 + 900 + 125 = 4,025
Section 4: Mixed Challenge
(Students select any strategy)
- 3,289 + 4,716
Example with place value alignment:
• Ones: 9 + 6 = 15 → 5, carry 1
• Tens: 8 + 1 + 1 = 10 → 0, carry 1
• Hundreds: 2 + 7 + 1 = 10 → 0, carry 1
• Thousands: 3 + 4 + 1 = 8
Answer: 8,005 - 7,405 + 6,389
Example with partial sums:
• Thousands: 7,000 + 6,000 = 13,000
• Hundreds: 400 + 300 = 700
• Tens: 0 + 80 = 80
• Ones: 5 + 9 = 14
• Sum: 13,000 + 700 + 80 + 14 = 13,794 - Student‐created problem (answers will vary).
Check that they correctly decompose, align, or partial‐sum, and verify the final total.
Bonus: Mental Math Check
5,832 + 4,167
• Add 5,832 + 4,000 = 9,832
• Then add 167 = 9,999
Answer: 9,999
Reading
Place Value Chart Handout
Use this chart to keep digits organized when adding (or subtracting) multi-digit numbers. Writing each digit under its correct place value helps you add column by column and manage any carries.
How to Use
- Write each number on its own row, placing each digit under the matching column header.
- Add digits in the Ones column first, recording any carryover above the Tens column.
- Continue with Tens, Hundreds, and Thousands, including carries as you go.
- Write the final sum on the line labeled “Sum.”
Chart Template
| Thousands | Hundreds | Tens | Ones | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ← Number 1 | ||||
| ← Number 2 | ||||
| ← Sum |
Practice Problems
Problem 1: Use the chart below to add your numbers.
| Thousands | Hundreds | Tens | Ones |
|---|---|---|---|
Problem 2: Try another addition here.
| Thousands | Hundreds | Tens | Ones |
|---|---|---|---|
Keep this handout handy at your station whenever you practice place value alignment! You can also use it to check your work on the Exit Ticket: Addition Check.
Reading
Partial Sums Strategy Guide
Use the Partial Sums strategy to add multi-digit numbers by breaking them into place-value parts, adding each part separately, and then combining your results.
Steps to Follow
- Decompose each number into its place-value parts (thousands, hundreds, tens, ones).
- Add each place-value pair to get partial sums:
- Hundreds: 400 + 300 = 700
- Tens: 50 + 60 = 110
- Ones: 8 + 7 = 15
- Combine all partial sums: 700 + 110 + 15 = 825.
Worked Example
Add 645 + 378 using Partial Sums:
| Place Value | 645 Breakdown | 378 Breakdown | Partial Sum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hundreds | 600 | 300 | 900 |
| Tens | 40 | 70 | 110 |
| Ones | 5 | 8 | 13 |
| Total | 900 + 110 + 13 = 1,023 |
Practice Template
Use this table to organize your work for each problem.
| Place Value | First Number | Second Number | Partial Sum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thousands | |||
| Hundreds | |||
| Tens | |||
| Ones | |||
| Total |
Practice Problems
- 529 + 374 = ___
| Place Value | First Number | Second Number | Partial Sum |
|-------------|--------------|---------------|-------------|
| Hundreds | | | |
| Tens | | | |
| Ones | | | |
| Total | | | |
- 1,247 + 583 = ___
| Place Value | First Number | Second Number | Partial Sum |
|-------------|--------------|---------------|-------------|
| Thousands | | | |
| Hundreds | | | |
| Tens | | | |
| Ones | | | |
| Total | | | |
Keep this guide handy at your station and use it to check your work on the Exit Ticket: Addition Check.
Activity
Number Bonds Cards
Use these cards to practice decomposing multi-digit numbers into hundreds, tens, and ones. Cut along the lines to create individual cards. At your station, pick a card, write the parts for each number, then recombine to check your decomposition.
| Whole Number | Hundreds | Tens | Ones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 458 | |||
| 367 | |||
| 592 | |||
| 714 | |||
| 823 | |||
| 901 | |||
| 645 | |||
| 278 |
How to Use:
- Choose a card and write the number in the “Whole Number” column.
- Decompose into place-value parts:
- Write the number of hundreds in the “Hundreds” column.
- Write the number of tens in the “Tens” column.
- Write the number of ones in the “Ones” column.
- Add your parts to make sure they total the whole number.
- Swap cards with a partner and check each other’s work.
Keep these cards at the Number Bonds station to build fluency in decomposition and addition!
Warm Up
Exit Ticket: Addition Check
Instructions
Complete the following multi-digit addition problem using any strategy you’ve learned (place value alignment, partial sums, or number bonds). Show all your work in the space provided.
Problem: 2,739 + 4,586 = ___
Work:
Answer: ___