One of the steps that students must first learn before mastering addition is simple counting. Candy is a good tool for teachers in this step. For instance, teachers can place piles of candy in front of three students. They can then ask the rest of the class which of these students has more candy. To determine this, kindergarten students will have to count the amount of candy in each pile.
To introduce the basics of addition, teachers hand certain students a small number of candies. They then instruct the rest of the kindergarten class members to give each of these students enough additional candies to make sure that each has five, six or seven pieces of candy. Through this simple game, students can learn how to add differing sums to arrive at the right answer.
Adding gum balls is another interesting way to teach kindergarten students how to add. First, the teacher writes a number on the chalkboard. The teacher then places a number of candy pieces on a table. Students count the candy pieces and then determine how many additional pieces of candy they need to place on the table to equal the number on the chalk board.
In candy bingo, the teacher fills a bag with pieces of candy. She then passes out a sheet of paper to every student filled with different numbers. The teacher pulls out a handful of candies from her bag and places them on a table. Students must add the candy pieces and then circle that number if they have it on their bingo card. The first student to circle three numbers -- or any other sum -- wins the game.