Step one - learn the number bonds in order

Step two - learn the number bonds in any order

Step three - learn the inverse (subtraction)

Children need to learn their number bonds but also understand what that means.

A number bond is 2 numbers that make a given number. 
The inverse is starting with a given number, taking one number away and knowing which number will be left.

In Reception we start with our number bonds to 5 and move on to number bonds to 10. Children need to know these to achieve the expected outcome in Mathematics at the end of the year.

Number bonds to 5

0 + 5 = 5

1 + 4 = 5

2 + 3 = 5

3 + 2 = 5

4 + 1 = 5

5 + 0 = 5

Inverse of number bonds to 5

5 - 5 = 0

5 - 4 = 1

5 - 3 = 2

5 - 2 = 3

5 - 1 = 4

5 - 0 = 5

Number bonds to 10

10 + 0 = 10

9 + 1 = 10

8 + 2 = 10

7 + 3 = 10

6 + 4 = 10

5 + 5 = 10

4 + 6 = 10

3 + 7 = 10

2 + 8 = 10

1 + 9 = 10

10 + 0 = 10

Questions to ask your child…

”Which 2 numbers make 5?”

”Which number goes with _ to make 5?”

”If I have 5 and take away _ how many will I have left?”

You could make them into number stories…

”I went to the shop and bought 5 pieces of fruit. I bought 3 strawberries, how many cherries did I buy?”

”I had 5 pencils in my bag but I lost 4. How many did I have left?

You could learn some songs…

At school we use the part, part, whole method to help children understand number bonds.

and any objects you have at home.

Use your bricks. Make a tower of 5 bricks. Break it into 2 parts. What are your 2 parts? If you take one part away how many will you have left? If you don’t have bricks use any objects at home and just split them into 2 groups.

Use your bricks with the part, part, whole method. Put a tower in each ‘part’ then move them both to the ‘whole’. Did it make 5?
Put your tower of 5 in the ‘whole’. Break it into two parts and put one in each ‘part’. Which two numbers do you have?

Now do it with numerals.