Candy Corn Math: Compose & Decompose the Number 10

Grab these free candy corn math worksheets to learn addition and subtraction concepts by composing and decomposing the number 10!

Working hands-on with objects is a great activity for preschool and kindergarten aged kiddos to learn addition and subtraction.

We decided to work with candy corn for our Halloween math activity, but you can use other objects such as m&ms, fruit loops, popcorn, legos, etc.

Not only is this a great way to teach children to decompose numbers into pairs in more than one way, this activity also helps develop your child’s understanding of recording equations and numbers and strengthens their ability to think flexibly about numbers.

Kindergarten Hands-on Math Manipulative Activity

My kids are very visual learners. The concept of decomposition is a pretty complex math concept for young learners.

My goal was to create an activity that made it more tangible in order to help them grasp how numbers work and how numbers can be broken up (decomposed) or put back together (composed).

Using concrete objects like candy corn (because yum!) to decompose the number 10 helps children to visualize decomposing 10 and putting together different combinations of ten.

We also took it one step further and used our Decomposition Activity Log to produce equations to match the combinations of 10 to help verbalize their observations.

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Candy Corn Decomposition Supplies

• Dry erase pocket sleeves
• Dry erase markers
• Candy corn
• Decomposing 10 Activity Sheet (grab the other worksheets below!)

Please click on the links below each section to download each worksheet for free. You can also download all of the worksheets in one bundle at the end of this post!

You might also like: Teach the Fibonacci Sequence with this Easy Math & Art Activity!

Composing and Decomposing the Number 10 with Candy Corn

Candy Corn Ten Frames

To begin our activity, we used our ten frames to visualize the numbers 1-10. This is a great activity to do with a preschooler.

I even used the candy corn ten frames with our toddler and we counted out the candy corn as we matched them with the correct number.

<<CLICK HERE FOR FREE HALLOWEEN TEN FRAMES>>

Candy Corn Math Decomposition Activity Log

Charlotte, my Kindergartner used her Decomposition Activity Log to record her observations as she worked through the activity.

I let her work freely and explore while I supervised. Her one rule was that she couldn’t record the same observation twice. She kept landing on 6+4 and she thought it was so funny!

<<CLICK HERE FOR CANDY CORN MATH NUMBER 10 DECOMPOSITION ACTIVITY LOG>>

Ways to Make 10 Kindergarten Math Worksheet

After she completed her observations and had worked with her candy corn a bunch, she moved on to complete the “Ways to Make 10” combinations of ten worksheet.

With minimal direction, she started her sheet and continued to use her candy corn to visualize the equations that she was making.

<<CLICK HERE FOR KINDERGARTEN MATH WAYS TO MAKE 10 WORKSHEET>>

Compose the Number 10 Worksheet

To compose 10, she worked through her “Compose 10” worksheet that includes both visual and equation combinations of 10.

I read the directions to her and she worked through the worksheet composing and decomposing the number 10. After she was completed, I had her present her worksheet to me.

<<CLICK HERE FOR CANDY CORN MATH COMPOSE 10 WORKSHEET>>

Key Number Decomposition Terms to Discuss

Talk through key learning terms and discussion questions. Make sure to discuss key decomposition terms like add, subtract, equals, decompose, and equation.

Candy Corn Decomposition Math Activity Discussion Questions

• What does the word decompose mean?
• What symbol do we use to show that we have an equal amount of candy corn?
• How many candy corn are on your mat?
• When you put the candy corn together, how many combinations can you make that form 10?

<<CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD CANDY CORN MATH HALLOWEEN 10-FRAMES BUNDLE>>

PIN THIS HALLOWEEN MATH ACTIVITY

Meet Toni, the Maker Mom behind Our Family Code

Hey there, I’m Toni! I’m a software engineer and Maker Mom that finds my joy in unleashing my children’s curiosity by exploring STEAM concepts with my fantastic five!

When I’m not chasing toddlers or raising tweens, you can find me tearing things up and putting them back together over here at Our Family Code.

I am the owner and content creator of multiple educational websites designed to increase access to STEAM & STEM education with a focus on teaching computer science and coding to kids of all ages!

You can also find out more about me by visiting ToniGardner.com!