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Maths

Number Bonds to 10

Overview

Students work together to find all pairs of numbers that add to 10, using fingers, counters, or drawings to support their thinking.

Learning Objective
Students practise all number bond pairs to 10 fluently, building the mental addition foundation needed for larger calculations.

Resources needed

  • Counters or cubes (10 per pair)
  • Number bond recording sheet (optional)

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Hold up 7 fingers. Ask: 'How many fingers am I hiding?' Take responses and reveal. Repeat with different starting numbers.
  2. 2 Lay 10 counters in a line. Move 3 to one side: 'I have 3 here and 7 there — 3 and 7 make 10.' Record: 3 + 7 = 10. Ask students to predict: 'What goes with 4 to make 10?'
  3. 3 In pairs, students take turns: one partner hides some counters under a cup, the other counts the visible ones and says how many are hidden. Check by lifting the cup.
  4. 4 Students record all number bond pairs for 10 (0+10, 1+9, 2+8 ... 10+0) in any order they find them, using counters to check each one.
  5. 5 Can you find a pattern in your list? What do you notice about the numbers? (They swap — commutativity.)
  6. 6 Class creates a joint list. Ask: 'How many different bonds did we find? Are 3+7 and 7+3 the same or different?'
  7. 7 Teacher calls a number (e.g. 6) — students write the bond partner on a whiteboard or finger-trace it in the air.

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Use a tens frame mat for visual support
  • Extend to number bonds to 20 for early finishers
  • Play 'Bond Snap' — two piles of cards, flip one from each, call 'Snap!' when they make 10
More information

Teach the sentence: '___ and ___ make 10.' Use visual number bond diagrams. Pair EAL students with a buddy who can model the language.

Students needing support use a tens frame and physically place counters. Students who need extension find bonds to 20.

Can students recall bonds to 10 without counting? Do they recognise commutativity (3+7 = 7+3)? Are they starting to visualise rather than count all?

Use fingers only — no counters needed. Students draw dots on mini whiteboards or scratch paper.

Students may think 3+7 and 7+3 are different bonds. Explicitly show they are the same addition written a different way.

Activity details
Primary Easy 20 minutes No prep Pairs, Small Group Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Number Bonds Addition Mental Calculation