Double Ten Frame
Two stacked blank ten frames.
The Double Ten Frame pairs two blank ten frames — stacked one above the other — giving students a structured workspace for numbers up to 20. This layout is essential for kindergarten and grades 1–2 because it physically shows the 'teen' numbers as "a full ten and some more," which is the conceptual leap that underpins all later two-digit arithmetic. Teachers use the double frame during addition-to-20 lessons, making-ten strategies, and the transition from concrete counting to symbolic notation. The top frame typically represents the first addend; the bottom frame catches the overflow when students bridge through 10. Students working independently on number bonds, fact families, or subtraction from 20 find the two-frame layout keeps their thinking neatly organized without requiring additional paper or grids.
Learning objectives
- Represent and compare numbers 11–20 using place value
- Master the make-a-ten addition strategy
- Understand teen numbers as ten-plus-some-more
- Practice subtraction from 20 using visual supports
- Explore number bonds and fact families within 20
- Bridge concrete manipulative use to written equations
How to use this template
- Download and print; laminate for repeated dry-erase use or slide into a plastic sleeve.
- Supply two-color counters, red and yellow chips, or dot stickers in two colors.
- Fill the top frame first to represent 10, then place remaining counters in the bottom frame.
- Read the result aloud as 'ten and __ makes __' to reinforce the teen-number structure.
- Erase or flip counters to model subtraction by removing from the bottom frame first.
Classroom & home ideas
- Make-a-ten strategy: pose 8 + 6, have students fill the top frame to 10, then see that 4 remain for the bottom, yielding 14.
- Teen number anchor posters: photograph a completed double frame for each number 11–20 and display as a classroom reference strip.
- Partner addition: each student covers one frame; together they count both frames and record the sum.
- Subtraction stories: start with 17 counters across both frames and remove them one by one from the bottom, narrating the subtraction.
- Odd and even exploration: students try to fill both frames in pairs, seeing which numbers leave a lone counter.
Skills & curriculum links
Frequently asked questions
Do students always fill the top frame first?
Yes — filling the top frame to 10 before using the bottom frame is the key convention. It makes the 'ten and some more' structure of teen numbers immediately visible.
What is the advantage over two separate single ten frames?
The two frames printed together share a common border, keeping the visual units tight and aligned. This makes comparing full-versus-partial rows much clearer and avoids students accidentally mixing up separate sheets.
Can the double ten frame be used for multiplication?
It can informally introduce repeated addition (e.g., 4 groups of 5 distributed across both frames), though a dedicated array template is better for formal multiplication work in grades 2 and up.
Is this template suitable for PreK students?
Most PreK students work with single-digit numbers, so the single ten frame is the better starting point. The double frame is typically introduced in kindergarten once children are confident counting to 10.
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