Reception Maths: Number bonds to 5
Part of the Reception Maths making and splitting numbers chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Number bonds to 5
Ella has 5 counters. Some are red and some are yellow.
A number bond is a pair of numbers that makes a whole. Here, 2 and 3 make 5. The pairs that make 5 are 0 and 5, 1 and 4, 2 and 3, 3 and 2, 4 and 1 and 5 and 0.
Key ideas
- A number bond is two parts that make a whole.
- The pairs that make 5 are: 0 and 5, 1 and 4, 2 and 3.
- Turning the pair round does not change the total: 2 and 3, or 3 and 2.
Key words. The whole is all of the things. The parts are the groups that make it.
Method. Put the two parts together, then count them all.
- Find the first part: 2. Start with the bigger part and count on.2
- Count on 3 more. Count on one at a time from the first part.2 + 3 = 5
- Write the answer. The total is the whole.5
Check. Count the whole group one at a time: 5. ✓
Watch out. Count on from the bigger part. The total is always bigger than either part.
Key words. A missing part is the number we add to the known part to make the whole.
Method. The whole is 5. One part is 4. Find the other part.
- Start with the whole: 5. The whole has all the things.5
- Take away the part you know: 4. What is left is the other part.5 − 4 = 1
- Check by counting on. 4 and 1 must make 5.4 + 1 = 5
- Write the answer. 1
Check. Count on from 4 to 5: 1 more. ✓
Watch out. Count on from the part you know, to reach the whole.
Key words. The whole is all of the things. The parts are the groups that make it.
Method. Put the two parts together, then count them all.
- Find the first part: 1. Start with the bigger part and count on.1
- Count on 4 more. Count on one at a time from the first part.1 + 4 = 5
- Write the answer. The total is the whole.5
Check. Count the whole group one at a time: 5. ✓
Watch out. Count on from the bigger part. The total is always bigger than either part.
Watch out
Watch out: 2 and 3 make 5, and 3 and 2 make 5. But 2 and 2 do not make 5.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Use five buttons. Ask your child to split them into two piles and say the two numbers. Then turn the piles round and say the pair again.
Exercise 4B Bonds to 5
Non-calculatorKey words. The whole is all of the things. The parts are the groups that make it.
Method. Put the two parts together, then count them all.
- Find the first part: 1. Start with the bigger part and count on.1
- Count on 4 more. Count on one at a time from the first part.1 + 4 = 5
- Write the answer. The total is the whole.5
Check. Count the whole group one at a time: 5. ✓
Watch out. Count on from the bigger part. The total is always bigger than either part.
Key words. A missing part is the number we add to the known part to make the whole.
Method. The whole is 5. One part is 3. Find the other part.
- Start with the whole: 5. The whole has all the things.5
- Take away the part you know: 3. What is left is the other part.5 − 3 = 2
- Check by counting on. 3 and 2 must make 5.3 + 2 = 5
- Write the answer. 2
Check. Count on from 3 to 5: 2 more. ✓
Watch out. Count on from the part you know, to reach the whole.
Key words. The whole is all of the things. The parts are the groups that make it.
Method. Put the two parts together, then count them all.
- Find the first part: 4. Start with the bigger part and count on.4
- Count on 1 more. Count on one at a time from the first part.4 + 1 = 5
- Write the answer. The total is the whole.5
Check. Count the whole group one at a time: 5. ✓
Watch out. Count on from the bigger part. The total is always bigger than either part.
Key words. A missing part is the number we add to the known part to make the whole.
Method. The whole is 5. One part is 2. Find the other part.
- Start with the whole: 5. The whole has all the things.5
- Take away the part you know: 2. What is left is the other part.5 − 2 = 3
- Check by counting on. 2 and 3 must make 5.2 + 3 = 5
- Write the answer. 3
Check. Count on from 2 to 5: 3 more. ✓
Watch out. Count on from the part you know, to reach the whole.
Key words. The whole is all of the things. The parts are the groups that make it.
Method. Put the two parts together, then count them all.
- Find the first part: 5. Start with the bigger part and count on.5
- Count on 0 more. Count on one at a time from the first part.5 + 0 = 5
- Write the answer. The total is the whole.5
Check. Count the whole group one at a time: 5. ✓
Watch out. Count on from the bigger part. The total is always bigger than either part.
Method. Add the two parts in each pair. The right pair makes 5.
- Add the first pair. Check the total.2 + 2 = 4
- Add the other pairs. Only one pair makes the whole.2 + 3 = 5
- Write the answer. 2 and 3
Check. 2 + 3 = 5. ✓
Watch out. Add both parts in each pair to check.
Key words. A missing part is the number we add to the known part to make the whole.
Method. The whole is 5. One part is 4. Find the other part.
- Start with the whole: 5. The whole has all the things.5
- Take away the part you know: 4. What is left is the other part.5 − 4 = 1
- Check by counting on. 4 and 1 must make 5.4 + 1 = 5
- Write the answer. 1
Check. Count on from 4 to 5: 1 more. ✓
Watch out. Count on from the part you know, to reach the whole.
Key words. A missing part is the number we add to the known part to make the whole.
Method. The whole is 5. One part is 1. Find the other part.
- Start with the whole: 5. The whole has all the things.5
- Take away the part you know: 1. What is left is the other part.5 − 1 = 4
- Check by counting on. 1 and 4 must make 5.1 + 4 = 5
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Count on from 1 to 5: 4 more. ✓
Watch out. Count on from the part you know, to reach the whole.
Key words. A missing part is the number we add to the known part to make the whole.
Method. The whole is 5. One part is 4. Find the other part.
- Start with the whole: 5. The whole has all the things.5
- Take away the part you know: 4. What is left is the other part.5 − 4 = 1
- Check by counting on. 4 and 1 must make 5.4 + 1 = 5
- Write the answer. 1
Check. Count on from 4 to 5: 1 more. ✓
Watch out. Count on from the part you know, to reach the whole.
Key words. A missing part is the number we add to the known part to make the whole.
Method. The whole is 5. One part is 2. Find the other part.
- Start with the whole: 5. The whole has all the things.5
- Take away the part you know: 2. What is left is the other part.5 − 2 = 3
- Check by counting on. 2 and 3 must make 5.2 + 3 = 5
- Write the answer. 3
Check. Count on from 2 to 5: 3 more. ✓
Watch out. Count on from the part you know, to reach the whole.
Method. Count 3 and 3 together.
- Count the first part. Three things.3
- Count the second part. Three more things.3
- Put them together. Count all the things.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Write the answer. No. 3 and 3 make 6.
Check. Count 6 things in all. ✓
Watch out. Count both parts, not just one.
Method. Start with 0 and 5. Then move one counter at a time from one part to the other.
- Start with all in one part. Use 0 in one part and the total in the other.0 and 5
- Move one at a time. Each time, one more goes into the first part.5 pairs in order
- Write the pairs. Include 0 and the total.0 and 5, 1 and 4, 2 and 3, 3 and 2, 4 and 1, 5 and 0
Check. Each pair adds to 5. ✓
Watch out. Keep a list in order, so you do not miss a pair.