What are number bonds...

Hi parents and carers,

Some of you have asked what number bonds are and why we learn them in school.

Number bonds are also often referred to as 'number pairs'. They are simply the pairs of numbers that make up a given number.

In Year 1 we start by finding number bonds to 10 and we encourage children to work systematically in order to get all possible pairs of numbers. There are 5 number bonds that make 10 but you can find a further 5 by adding them the other way round (commutative law of addition). Then we progress to finding all the number bonds to 20 (which is the same as bonds to 10 but add an extra 10)  Then it is possible ways to make any given number in this way.

Number bonds are important for providing a visual understanding of the size of a number and show that there are many ways in which one number can be formed or broken down. They are a good basis for understanding addition and subtraction and children can recognise the bonds in + and - calculations to help the reach the answer quicker. 

Here are the links for some catchy songs the children learnt to help them remember their number bonds...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZi-6_-Uhwc  - number bonds to 10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6udqW6VhWg number bonds to 20

For an added challenge you can show the number bonds as part part whole (see attached image below). 

I hope this explains what number bonds are - keep practising them and thanks for all your support!