Valentine’s Day Candy Jar Making Ten Craft: A Sweet Way to Build Early Number Sense
Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to mix a little math with a whole lot of fun, and this Valentine Making Ten Candy Jar Craft does precisely that.
Students get to color, count, and create while learning how two parts make ten, giving them a hands-on way to build essential early number sense. It’s great for math centers!
What Is the Candy Jar Making Ten Craft?
This Valentine’s Day craft combines art, counting, and early addition in a way that young learners instantly connect with. Each student receives a candy jar filled with hearts, along with a half-page recording sheet where they show a number pair that makes ten.
After coloring the hearts in two different colors, students record how many of each they used and write a matching number sentence to equal ten.
It’s both a math lesson and a creative keepsake students will be proud to take home.
What’s Included?
This resource comes with:
- A printable candy jar craft page for each student
- A half-page recording sheet for composing the number ten
- Space for students to write:
“My candy jar has ___ (color) hearts and ___ (color) hearts, so 10 = __ + __.”
The simple layout allows students to demonstrate their understanding of number pairs while creating a cute Valentine’s Day-themed project.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prep is quick and easy:
- Print the candy jar pages (one per student).
- Print and cut apart the half-page recording sheets.
- Set out crayons, scissors, glue, and construction paper for assembling the final craft.
Once materials are ready, students can complete the entire activity independently or with minimal support.
How to Use the Candy Jar Making Ten Craft
Here are the step-by-step directions students will follow:
- Color the hearts using two different colors. Some hearts should be one color, and some should be another.
- Color the candy jar any way they choose.
- Cut out the candy jar and the recording sheet.
- Glue the candy jar at the top of a piece of construction pape,r and glue the recording sheet underneath.
- Write the number combination that matches how many hearts of each color they used.
For example:
“My candy jar has 2 pink hearts and 8 green hearts, so 10 = 2 + 8.”
This visual connection between coloring, counting, and writing the equation helps reinforce how number pairs combine to make ten.
Why Making Ten Is an Important Skill
Understanding combinations that make ten is a foundational skill for kindergarten and early elementary students. It supports:
- Addition fluency
- Number sense development
- Understanding part–whole relationships
- Mental math strategies used in later grades
This craft gives students a concrete, hands-on way to practice composing and decomposing ten.
Ideas for Differentiation
You can easily adjust the activity to meet the needs of different learners:
- For beginners: Pre-select the number pair and model how to color that combination.
- For extra challenge: Have students generate more than one way to make ten on the back of their paper.
- For centers: Provide manipulatives like heart counters so students can experiment before coloring.
Book Pairing Suggestions
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Pair this craft with a Valentine-themed read-aloud to build excitement:
- “The Day It Rained Hearts” by Felicia Bond – A classic February favorite with plenty of counting and heart visuals.
- “Love Monster” by Rachel Bright – A sweet, simple story that ties in perfectly with Valentine’s Day themes.
Reading first helps spark engagement and gives students a fun context before beginning their candy jar craft.
A Fun and Meaningful Valentine’s Day Math Activity
The Candy Jar Making Ten Craft brings together creativity, early math skills, and Valentine’s Day fun in one easy-to-prep activity. Whether you’re introducing number combinations or reviewing them in February, this craft offers a hands-on, memorable way for students to show what they know.
Be sure to grab your Valentine’s Day Math Activity below and let the festive fun begin!
For more fun February printables, check these out:
Candy Hearts Find and Color the Number for Valentine’s Day
I Love You to Pieces Valentine’s Day Craft Activity
Valentine’s Day Roll and Cover Math Game
Valentine’s Day Find and Color the Letter
Valentine’s Day Beginning Sounds Alphabet Clip Cards Free Printable
Valentine Hearts Alphabet Board Games
Valentine’s Day Editable Board Game