Printable Adding 5 Flash Cards
Adding 5 is the halfway family: 5 is half of ten, one full hand, one nickel. Children who see numbers as "5 and some more" (7 is 5 + 2) find these facts almost read themselves: 7 + 5 is 5 + 5 with 2 more — 12. These fold-over flashcards cover 1 + 5 through 12 + 5.
How to Use These Flash Cards
Anchor on hands: 5 is one full hand, so 8 + 5 is a full hand onto 8 — take 2 to make ten, then 3 more lands on 13. Cards with both numbers 5 or more all cross ten, so this deck doubles as make-ten practice. The 5 + 5 = 10 card should be instant before the rest are drilled.
How to Cut and Fold
- Print the PDF single-sided on plain paper or light cardstock.
- Cut along the solid lines to separate the cards.
- Fold each card along the dashed center line so the answer sits behind the question, and turn the card over like a page to check.
- Optional: a dab of glue inside the fold makes a sturdy double-thick card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 5 a special number for addition facts?
It is half of ten and one full hand, so numbers naturally split into "5 and some more": 8 is 5 + 3. Seeing that structure turns 8 + 5 into 5 + 5 + 3 = 13 with no counting.
How does money help with +5 facts?
Nickels: adding a nickel to 7 cents gives 12 cents, which is 7 + 5. Coins give the facts a physical form a child can count and then stop needing to count.
What is the make-ten route for 9 + 5?
Take 1 from the 5 to fill 9 up to ten, leaving 4: 9 + 5 = 10 + 4 = 14. The same take-what-ten-needs move handles every large +5 card.