Counting and early mathPre-K–K
Preschool addition worksheets with pictures
Each problem shows two groups of shapes joined by a plus sign, followed by a number sentence with a box for the total. Choose sums within 5 or within 10, turn pictures on or off, and print with an answer key.
- Fresh problems every time
- Answer key on its own page
- Print or PDF, Letter or A4
- Free, no sign-up
On this page
Why start with pictures
Before a young child can add with symbols, they need to see that adding means putting groups together. A sheet that says "3 + 2" asks them to hold two quantities in their head. A sheet that shows three stars, a plus sign and two more stars lets them count what is in front of them, then connect the count to a number sentence.
Each problem on this page has that shape: a left group, a plus sign, a right group, and underneath it a line such as 3 + 2 = followed by an empty box. The instruction on the sheet asks the child to count both groups and write the total in the box. The page is meant for the stage after plain counting (see counting worksheets) and before symbols-only fact practice.
Settings and what they do
- Operation. This page opens on addition. The same tool can also print subtraction or a mix, but for a first encounter with adding, stay with addition only.
- Numbers up to. Choose 5 or 10. With 5, the two groups together never go past five, so the picture fits in a single glance. With 10, groups are bigger and the pictures take more room, so the page holds fewer rows.
- Show pictures. Leave this on for beginners. Turn it off later to get a compact page of number sentences with answer boxes, which is a good check that the child no longer needs the shapes.
- Number of problems. Anything from 4 to 20. Eight is a comfortable start.
- Include the answer key. The key fills in each total so you can check quickly.
Addends are always at least 1, so you will not see problems that add zero. That keeps every picture showing two real groups.
Worked example: 3 + 2 with stars
Imagine a problem with three stars on the left, a plus sign, and two stars on the right.
- Point to the left group and count it: one, two, three. Say, "Three stars."
- Point to the right group: one, two. Say, "Two stars."
- Ask, "If we put them all together, how many?" Count every star from one: one, two, three, four, five.
- Write 5 in the box after 3 + 2 =.
- Read the whole sentence aloud: "Three plus two equals five."
Once this feels easy, show the child they can count on: start at three and say "four, five" while touching the two new stars. That saves time and is the strategy they will use for years.
Common stumbling blocks
- Counting only one group. The child writes 3 or 2 in the box. Cover the plus sign with a finger and ask, "How many stars did you count altogether?"
- Writing the second number. Some children copy the last number they see. Have them say the sentence aloud before writing.
- Recounting from scratch every time. This is normal and fine at first. Introduce counting on only after the child is accurate.
- Confusing the plus sign with a cross. Point out that plus means "join" and tell a tiny story about each picture.
Compare the child's boxes with the answer key rather than correcting each one in red; a gentle "let's count that one again" teaches more. When sums within 5 are secure, raise the limit to 10 or try kindergarten addition and subtraction, where some pictures are crossed out instead of joined.