How To Make a Ten Frames Printable
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Sometimes you just need to whip up a ten frame mat to use in your lesson or small group. Ten frames are SO simple!
You may or may not already know how to do this, but I have been asked, so I thought I would share with everyone!
Here is a quick tutorial on how to make a simple ten frame printable using powerpoint and the table tool! I have a Mac so the images will be of a Mac screen, but this process is very similar on a PC. I have used this when I need to make a ten frame for an activity on the fly for a lesson or small group. Just create the ten frame, and send it to the printer!
It is possible to make this fancier, but that is not always necessary. I use the “fancied up ten frames in my math center groups, when I have much more time to prepare!
You can see the ten frame printable tutorial below!
Making a Ten Frame Printable
Step 1:
Under the “Insert” tab, use the table tools to create a table that is 2 rows by five columns. All you need to do is drag your curser over the blocks to highlight. Click to set you size.
Step 2:
This is what your table will look like before you begin to play around with it. You will want to change the fill color next to “no fill”. This is found under “Shading” on the top menu, then select “No Fill”. You will be left with one large rectangle box.
Step 3:
Now, we want this to begin resembling a ten frame. The sections are still there, just not visible right now. At the top of your screen select “Borders” and choose the option to have all of the borders filled in. This image looks like a 4-pane window.
Step 4:
The borders and lines are looking a little too skinny. Next, below that top, black solid line that you see at the top of the circle, you will see an option for selecting line thickness. Choose that box and choose how thick you want the lines of your table to be. I tend to chose 4 1/2 pt, but you can play around and see what works for you. It really depends on what size ten frame you are creating.
Step 5:
After selecting your perfect line thickness, you may notice that the lines on the box didn’t change yet. This tripped me up for a while! Well, simple solution! After selecting your line thickness, you need to go back to “Borders” and just click it, as it should already be set on all borders. That will add the line thickness to the entire ten frame table.
Step 6:
So far, so good, right?
Last step, just pull the corner and sides to make the ten frame the size you need it to be. If you are making a double ten frame, just copy and paste this ten frame to create another. Then just arrange them on the page.
Ok friends, I hope this is helpful in helping you to create a quick ten frame printable for your classroom! These can be made “in a pinch” when you need them.
Two things before I go!
1. Grab the free Winter Math Memory download, it includes both ten frames and tallies along with worksheets to use for lessons, small group, or accountability! Grab it using the form below.
2. Join the Sparkling in Primary Facebook community to always stay up to date on early education tips, inspiration, fun, education, and freebies!
If you have any questions about this ten frame printable tutorial or are stuck at any point in it, just send me an email at amanda@sparklinginprimary.com and I will get back to you as soon as I can! If you are using a PC and having difficulty, send me an email too, my husband has a Dell laptop so I can work through it with you.
You can even just send me a quick picture of your ten frame creation or tag me on Instagram with it! @sparkling.in.primary. I’d love to see them!
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