Blank Ten Frame Template

Elevate your elementary math lessons and build number sense with this blank ten frames printable PDF template. 

There are so many different math activities that can be completed using this free printable blank ten frame template!

What is a Ten Frame? 

The ten frame is a powerful tool used in early childhood math instruction to help students learn to recognize the numbers from 1 to 10. It looks like a blank grid with ten slots that are arranged in two rows of five slots. 

The 10 frame box is used to teach basic math concepts such as counting, one-to-one correspondence, addition, decomposing numbers, comparing different numbers, and place value.

Printing and Prepping the Ten Frame Free Printables

This ten frame template can be printed and laminated so that it can be used again and again.

MATH = LOVE RECOMMENDS…

A laminator is a MUST-HAVE for me as a math teacher! I spent my first six years as a teacher at a school with a broken laminator, so I had to find a way to laminate things myself.

I’ve had several laminators over the years. I currently use a Scotch laminator at home and a Swingline laminator at school.

• Scotch Laminator
• Swingline Laminator
• Nuova Laminating Pouches

I highly recommend splurging a bit on the actual laminator and buying the cheapest laminating pouches you can find!

If you do go the lamination route, I suggest using two color counters (also known as yellow and red counters), pom poms, or bingo chips when representing numbers on the ten-frame grid. Check out your math manipulatives closet at school to see what small objects you can find for students to use. 

MATH = LOVE RECOMMENDS…

I cannot imagine teaching math without my dry erase pockets! They instantly make any activity more engaging and save me countless hours at the copy machine since I can use the same class sets of copies year after year.

Here are my current go-to recommendations:

• 8.5 x 11 Inch Dry Erase Pockets from Puroma
• 11 x 17 Inch Dry Erase Pockets from C-Line Products
• Expo Dry Erase Markers

Dry erase pockets are seriously one of my favorite classroom tools!

Other Sizes of Rectangular Frames

I have created several other sizes of frame templates in addition to these tens frames. The five frame template is appropriate for using with younger children since it only goes up to the number 5. The double ten frame template is great for practicing larger numbers since it goes up to 20. 

Both of these other sizes can also be used with dry erase pockets. 

Additional Ten Frame Printables

Here is a variety of other free ten frame resources that can be used as independent work or in math centers. My goal is to help make it easy for you to complete your lesson plans while making sure your students are engaged and having fun! 

• Ten Frame Worksheets – Challenge your students with these fun “Count and Match” ten frames worksheets. 
• Ten Frame Flash Cards and Matching Activity – These ten frame cards were originally designed as a matching game, but you can easily cut them into strips and fold/glue them to form a ten frame flash card.
• Ten Frame Clipart – You can easily create your own classroom resources with this free set of clipart.