Number bonds to 10 and 20

Bonds to 10

Knowledge of number bonds is essential when it comes to harder calculations involving addition and subtraction (for example, children learn to use the bridging through 10 method to help them add numbers mentally), so it is vital children get a firm grounding in this from Years 1

• Count out 10 objects and play a game by covering/hiding a few and asking how many are present and how many missing.
• Play a similar game using pegs hanging from a clothes hanger. Simplify the learning by having 5 pegs of one colour and 5 in another.
• Make bond partners pictures.
• Give your child ten counters (Lego bricks, past shapes, buttons, sweets) and ask them questions such as: What do you add to 3 to make 10? What do you add to 2 to make 10? Encourage them to use the counters to work it out.
• From a set of playing cards take the numbers 1-10 and ask your child to match them up into number pairs or number bonds to 10 (this can be done as a game of Snap- cards can also be used for addition games).
• Play games around the house by hiding numbers and having to find the pairs as quickly as possible.
• With squared paper colour different bonds to 10 combinations.

Bonds to 20

• Print out number cards to 20 and ask our child to pair them. Use a timer /egg timer to add challenge.

• Write a list of ten numbers then time your child to see how long it takes them to write down the other number that makes up each pair (2 and 18; 5 and 15; 4 and 16).