Vedic Maths for Class 1: 7 Easy Tricks, Examples & Free Worksheet with Answers

Ask a six-year-old to add 8 and 5, and you’ll often see the fingers come out. Nothing is wrong with that, but it gets slow and tiring. Vedic maths for Class 1 gives kids a few friendly shortcuts so they can work sums out in their heads. Below you’ll find 7 easy tricks, simple examples, and a free worksheet with answers you can use at home or in class.

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What Is Vedic Maths?

Vedic maths is a set of mental calculation methods built around 16 sutras, which are short rules. Bharati Krishna Tirthaji popularised them in the early 20th century. The main idea is to understand how numbers behave instead of memorising long steps.

Little children can’t handle the full system, and they don’t need to. So teachers pick the gentle ideas, like making 10, doubling and counting in jumps. Everything in this article is a child-sized version of that thinking.

Why Start in Class 1?

At this age, children are building their first real feel for numbers. A few good habits now save a lot of trouble later.

Kids start to see how numbers fit together, not just what the answer is.
They lean less on finger counting.
A quick method makes a child feel clever, and that feeling keeps them interested.
Addition and subtraction get stronger, which makes carrying, borrowing and tables easier in Class 2 and 3.

In my experience with young learners, the children who understand why a small sum works rarely panic when the numbers get bigger.

A Few Tips Before You Begin

Keep sessions short, around 10 to 15 minutes.
Use real things: beads, buttons, blocks, even snack pieces.
Stick with one trick for several days before adding the next.
Praise the effort, not only the right answer.
Make it a game. If it feels like a test, you’ve lost them.

These Vedic math techniques for Class 1 students work best when they feel like playing.

7 Easy Vedic Maths Tricks for Class 1

Trick 1: Friends of 10

Two numbers that add up to 10 are “friends of 10.” Almost every other trick leans on these, so spend the most time here.

The pairs are 1 and 9, 2 and 8, 3 and 7, 4 and 6, and 5 and 5.

Example: What goes with 7 to make 10? Its friend is 3, so 7 + 3 = 10.

Try this: Hold up all 10 fingers, then fold down 4. Ask how many are still standing. Six! So 4 and 6 are friends.

Trick 2: The Add 9 Trick

Adding 9 is awkward. But 9 is just one less than 10, so add 10 first and then take 1 away.

Example: 9 + 6

6 + 10 = 16
16 − 1 = 15

Another: 9 + 4. First 4 + 10 = 14, then 14 − 1 = 13.

Trick 3: Doubles

A double is a number added to itself. Kids usually pick these up fast, especially with a rhyme.

3 + 3 = 6
5 + 5 = 10
7 + 7 = 14
9 + 9 = 18

Try this: Point out pairs in daily life, like two eyes, two shoes or two hands. Ask, “If there are two of the same group, how many altogether?”

Trick 4: Near Doubles

Once doubles feel easy, near doubles come almost free. When two numbers are neighbours, double the smaller one and add 1.

Example: 6 + 7

Double of 6 is 12
Add 1 more to get 13

Another: 8 + 9. Double 8 is 16, plus 1 makes 17.

Trick 5: Adding and Subtracting 10

When you add 10, only the tens digit goes up by one, and the ones digit stays put. When you subtract 10, the tens digit goes down by one.

23 + 10 = 33
45 + 10 = 55
78 − 10 = 68

Try this: Use a hundred charts. Moving one row down adds 10, and one row up takes 10 away. Kids spot the pattern quickly.

Trick 6: Bridge Through 10

When a sum goes past 10, first make 10, then add whatever is left over.

Example: 8 + 5

8 needs 2 to reach 10
Split 5 into 2 and 3
8 + 2 = 10, then 10 + 3 = 13

Another: 7 + 6. Split 6 into 3 and 3, so 7 + 3 = 10, and 10 + 3 = 13.

This one uses friends of 10, so make sure Trick 1 feels comfortable first.

Trick 7: Skip Counting by 2, 5 and 10

Counting in jumps shows children that numbers follow patterns. It also quietly prepares them for tables.

By 2: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12
By 5: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25
By 10: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50

Try this: Clap on every second number, or hop along a number line drawn on the floor. Moving the body helps the pattern stick.

A Simple Six-Week Plan

If you want a clear order, these simple Vedic maths lessons for first graders work well over six weeks.

Week	Focus
1	Friends of 10
2	Add 9 and doubles
3	Near doubles
4	Adding and subtracting 10
5	Bridge through 10
6	Skip counting and revision

Each week, spend a couple of minutes revisiting the older tricks so they don’t fade.

Fun Activities for 6 and 7 Year Olds

Kids this age learn through doing. These Vedic maths activities suitable for 6-7 year olds need hardly any preparation.

Friends of 10 cards: Write 1 to 9 on small cards and let children match each one to its partner.
Bead strings: Use 10 beads, 5 of one colour and 5 of another, to show number pairs.
Number line hops: Chalk a number line outside and have them hop to add or subtract.
Double dice: Roll a die and ask for its double.
Quick-fire round: Shout “9 plus 3!” and see who remembers the add 9 trick.

Mistakes Worth Avoiding

Pushing for speed too soon. Understanding comes first, and speed follows on its own.
Teaching everything at once. Too many methods just confuse small minds.
Dropping the objects. At this age children need to see and touch numbers.
Comparing children. Everyone moves at their own pace.

Free Vedic Maths Worksheet for Class 1 (with Answers)

This introductory Vedic maths worksheet for Grade 1 has 28 questions. Copy it into a document and print it, and let your child take their time.

Name: ____________ Date: ____________

Section A: Friends of 10

4 + __ = 10
7 + __ = 10
2 + __ = 10
9 + __ = 10

Section B: Add 9
5. 9 + 5 = __
6. 9 + 7 = __
7. 9 + 2 = __
8. 9 + 8 = __

Section C: Doubles
9. 3 + 3 = __
10. 8 + 8 = __
11. 10 + 10 = __
12. Double of 6 = __

Section D: Near Doubles
13. 5 + 6 = __
14. 7 + 8 = __
15. 4 + 5 = __
16. 6 + 7 = __

Section E: Add and Subtract 10
17. 14 + 10 = __
18. 31 + 10 = __
19. 57 − 10 = __
20. 80 − 10 = __

Section F: Bridge Through 10
21. 8 + 6 = __
22. 7 + 5 = __
23. 6 + 5 = __
24. 7 + 9 = __

Section G: Skip Counting (find the missing number)
25. 2, 4, 6, __, 10
26. 5, 10, __, 20
27. 10, 20, __, 40
28. 12, 14, 16, __

Answer Key

Q	Ans	Q	Ans	Q	Ans	Q	Ans
1	6	8	17	15	9	22	12
2	3	9	6	16	13	23	11
3	8	10	16	17	24	24	16
4	1	11	20	18	41	25	8
5	14	12	12	19	47	26	15
6	16	13	11	20	70	27	30
7	11	14	15	21	14	28	18

Don’t hand over the whole sheet in one go. One or two sections a day is plenty. And ask your child, “How did you get that?” If they can explain the trick in their own words, they’ve really learned it.

How Do You Know It's Working?

Over a few weeks, watch for these signs:

Fewer fingers on the desk
Quicker answers on small sums
A child who can explain their method
More interest in number games

If progress stalls, go back to Trick 1. Gaps in friends of 10 make everything after it harder.

Conclusion

Beginner Vedic maths for primary 1 can turn early maths from a chore into something closer to a puzzle. Start with friends of 10, take each trick slowly, and use the worksheet for steady practice. A calm, playful approach matters more than speed. A few minutes a day is enough to build a solid base for everything that comes next.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age should a child start Vedic maths?

Around 6 or 7 is fine for simple, play-based tricks like these. The full sutras suit Class 4 and above much better.

Is Vedic maths part of the Class 1 syllabus?

Not as a separate topic. Class 1 covers counting, addition and subtraction, and number patterns. These tricks support that work but don’t replace the textbook.

How long should daily practice be?

Ten to fifteen minutes is enough. Short and regular beats long and rare.

Can I teach this if I'm not good at maths?

Yes. The tricks are simple, and you can learn alongside your child.

Does it replace the school method?

No. Children still need the regular method. Vedic tricks just give them a faster option.