Printable ABN grid generator

Free, with nothing to download: choose, generate and hit print (or "Save as PDF"). With the method's real columns — ABN is the open, number-based way of calculating used in many Spanish schools.

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What if, instead of printing them… they marked themselves?
In PequeMissions these same grids are interactive: any path that gets there is accepted, it cheers your child on without frustration, and it tells you how it went. Try the free demo →
What is an ABN grid?

It's the star tool of the ABN method for adding and subtracting. ABN (from the Spanish for "open, number-based" calculation) is taught in many Spanish schools: instead of lining the numbers up in columns and carrying, your child "adds" or "takes away" amounts at their own pace, in whatever jumps they choose, writing down on each row how much they move, how much they have and how much is still to go. There's no single right way: any split that gets there is fine.

How do I use this sheet?

The calculation goes at the top (for example 47 + 25) and the empty grid underneath. The first row comes filled in: the first number, 47, under "I HAVE", and the second, 25, under "STILL TO ADD". Every row after that is a jump: on the left, what I add; in the middle, what I have now; on the right, what's still to add. Add 20 → I have 67 → 5 still to add… until there's nothing left to add. Subtraction works the same way, with TAKE AWAY, LEFT and STILL TO TAKE.

Can I use them in class or at home?

Yes: they're free, and you can print, photocopy and hand them out as often as you like, at home or in class. We only ask that you don't sell them or publish them elsewhere without the PequeMissions credit 💛