Free printable math drill — download and print instantly
This Addition Within 20 drill has 40 problems for Grade 2. Little Artists theme. Answer key included.
⬇ Download Free Math DrillGet new free worksheets every week.
All worksheets checked by our AI verification system. No wrong answers — guaranteed.
Max's painted masterpieces scattered everywhere! He must collect and count all the artwork before the art show opens.
Standard: CCSS.MATH.2.OA.B.2
At age 7-8, your child is building the mental math skills that will support all future math learning. Addition within 20 is a critical bridge: it moves students beyond counting on their fingers toward genuine number sense and fact fluency. When second graders master these combinations, they're not just memorizing—they're developing flexible thinking strategies like making 10, decomposing numbers, and recognizing patterns. These skills show up everywhere in daily life: splitting a snack with a friend, keeping score during games, or figuring out how many crayons are left in the box. Students who become fluent with addition within 20 gain confidence and speed, which frees up mental energy for multi-step problems and word problems later. This foundation is so essential that it directly supports CCSS standards for operations and algebraic thinking in Grade 2.
Many second graders recount from 1 each time instead of counting on from the larger number—so for 8+5, they'll count 1,2,3...13 rather than starting at 8 and adding 5 more. You'll spot this by watching their fingers or hearing them whisper; it's slow and error-prone. Others lose track of their count mid-problem or forget which number they started from. Some students also haven't yet internalized that 7+8 and 8+7 give the same answer, so they solve each as a brand-new problem rather than recognizing the pattern.
Play a quick dice or card game at home where you roll two dice and add the numbers aloud—no writing required. A child trying to stay competitive naturally shifts from counting on fingers to mental strategies faster. For example, rolling a 6 and 7 repeatedly helps them eventually just 'know' it's 13 without counting. Even little artists learn by doing: spend just 5 minutes before bedtime rolling and adding, celebrating when they answer without counting, and you'll see real growth in fluency within weeks.