Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Tens and Ones to 30 Worksheet for Year 1 (Free Printable)
- ForYear 1 (Free Printable)
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Tens and Ones to 30 is a free printable place value worksheet for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). It has 18 questions in three steps, plus a challenge question. Children practise seeing numbers up to 30 as tens and ones. Page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas, a stretch idea and full answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages on A4, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children practise tens and ones with numbers up to 30. The sheet has 18 questions in three steps, so the work builds gradually. There is space to write the answers. Children can use bundles of ten sticks and single sticks to help them see each number. A challenge question at the end gives confident children something extra to think about. Page 1 is the part for the child to complete.
Make your own tens and ones
Bundle the sticks
Collect lolly sticks, straws or pencils. Use elastic bands to fix groups of ten into bundles. Keep the rest as single sticks. An adult can help with the elastic bands if they are tight.
Build a number
Ask your child to make a number up to 30 using bundles and single sticks. Then ask them to say how many bundles and how many single sticks they used.
Swap ten ones for a ten
Put out some single sticks. Ask your child to group ten of them and tie them into a bundle. Talk about how ten ones and one ten are the same amount.
Draw it
Draw a number as lines for tens and dots for ones. This is a good bridge between real sticks and the numbers on the page.
Why tens and ones matter
Place value means that where a digit sits tells us what it is worth. In a two digit number, the digit on the left shows the tens and the digit on the right shows the ones. Ten ones can be swapped for one ten. This idea is the base of our number system, and children use it every time they read, write and compare numbers.
Young children often count objects one at a time. Grouping into tens is a big step forward, because it makes larger amounts quicker to count and easier to check. Sticks, cubes and counters help because children can see and touch the groups. Later they move to drawings and then to numbers alone. Talking aloud about tens and ones helps the idea stay in their memory.
Skills and curriculum link
- Place value
- Tens and ones
- Numbers to 30
- Counting in tens
- Reading and writing numbers
Ideas that help with tens and ones
- Ten ones make one tenTen single items can be grouped into one bundle. The amount stays the same. Only the way we group it changes.
- Position mattersThe same digit can mean different things depending on where it sits. The left digit counts tens. The right digit counts ones.
- Count tens firstCount the bundles in tens, then count on the single items. This is quicker than counting everything one by one.
- Zero holds a placeA zero in the ones place means there are no single ones. The zero is needed so the other digit stays in the tens place.
Key words
- DigitOne of the symbols we use to write numbers, from 0 to 9.
- TensGroups of ten. In a two digit number, the left digit tells you how many.
- OnesSingle items. In a two digit number, the right digit tells you how many.
- Place valueWhat a digit is worth because of where it sits in a number.
- BundleA group of ten items tied or held together.
- PartitionSplit a number into parts, such as tens and ones.
How to use it
- Print both pages on A4. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and every answer.
- Gather some bundles of ten sticks and single sticks. Let your child handle them before starting.
- Work through the first questions together. Ask your child to say what they see before they write anything.
- Let them try the rest alone, then check with page 2. Ask, "How did you work that out?" The thinking matters as much as the answer.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar sheet builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Let your child use bundles of ten sticks and single sticks to build each number before they write the answer. Count the bundles in tens, then count the single sticks. Do a few questions at a time, and come back to the rest on another day.
To stretch confident children
Try the challenge question at the end. Then write three similar questions of your own for a friend to answer. Check their answers together and talk about how they worked them out.
Make it a game
Take turns to build a number up to 30 with bundles of ten sticks and single sticks. The other player says how many tens and how many ones, then writes the number. Swap roles. Score a point for each correct answer.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child counts every stick one by one and loses track.
Try thisCount the bundles in tens first, saying ten, twenty. Then count on the single sticks. Grouping makes the count shorter and easier to check.
Watch forA child writes the digits the wrong way round, so the tens and ones swap places.
Try thisSay it aloud as tens first, then ones. Draw a two column grid with a tens side and a ones side, and place the sticks in it.
Watch forA child counts each bundle as one instead of ten.
Try thisCount one bundle slowly by touching each stick. Show that it holds ten. Then practise counting bundles by saying ten, twenty.
Talk about it
- How can you tell how many tens are in a number?
- What is the same and what is different about a bundle of ten and ten single sticks?
- Why do we need a place for tens and a place for ones?
- Can you show me a number in two different ways?
- What did you do when a question felt tricky?
- Which number would you pick for a friend to build, and why?
Take it off the page
Stick bundles
Tie ten lolly sticks or straws into bundles with elastic bands. Ask your child to make numbers up to 30 and say how many tens and ones they used.
Button groups
Tip out a pile of buttons or pasta shapes. Sort them into groups of ten on a sheet of paper. Count the groups, then count the ones left over.
Number cards
Write numbers up to 30 on small cards. Take turns to pick one and draw it as lines for tens and dots for ones. Let the other person guess the number.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first few questions, then let them lead. Have sticks or small objects ready so they can touch and group them. Praise careful thinking, and stop for a break if they tire.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task, a table activity or homework after teaching tens and ones. Page 2 has answers and support and stretch ideas. The three steps suit mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider maths plan. It pairs well with real objects, outdoor counting and everyday talk about numbers. Print it again for brothers and sisters, or for revision a few weeks later.
Where this fits
Before this sheet, children count objects and say number names in order. They begin to notice that numbers beyond ten are made of a ten and some ones. Counting in groups of ten helps them see this.
After this sheet, children work with larger numbers and compare them using tens and ones. In Year 2, place value extends up to 100 and is used in adding and subtracting. A secure start with small numbers makes that step easier.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Tens and Ones to 30 for?
It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6) in Key Stage 1. Some children who are younger or older may also enjoy it, depending on how confident they are with numbers up to 30.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or revision, so it can be used more than once.
- How do I use it?
Print both pages on A4. Give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Have bundles of ten sticks and single sticks ready. Work through the first questions together, then let your child try alone.
- What if it feels too hard?
Let your child build each number with bundles of ten sticks and single sticks first. Do a few questions at a time and come back to the rest later. Page 2 has more help ideas.
- How long does it take?
It depends on the child. There is no set time. Let your child work at their own pace, stop for a break if they need one, and finish on another day if you like.
- Is it suitable for teachers to use in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has answers and support and stretch ideas.
- Is this a screen free activity, and do I need colour printing?
Yes, it is screen free and needs only paper and a pencil. No colour is needed. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.