Number Bonds to 10
This topic covers 4 learning steps, guiding your child from the basics through to confident problem-solving. Each step includes a worked example and adaptive practice questions.
What Your Child Will Learn
- Bonds to 5
Pairs that make 5 - Bonds to 10
Pairs that make 10 - Missing number bonds
Find the missing number in a bond - All pairs for a number
Find all ways to make a number
Common Mistakes
- Thinking number bonds only work one way (knowing 3+7=10 but not 7+3=10)
Addition works in any order — this is called commutativity. Practise bonds both ways round so children see that the pair is the same regardless of which number comes first. - Confusing number bonds with counting on (e.g. working out 4+6 by counting on fingers instead of knowing it instantly)
Number bonds should become automatic facts, not calculated each time. Use games and flashcards to build instant recall — the goal is that your child "just knows" 4+6=10.
Tips for Parents
- Play "Make 10" with a pack of cards — turn over two cards and see if they add to 10. It is a brilliant game for car journeys.
- Use ten-frames (a 2×5 grid) with counters. Fill some spaces and ask "how many more to make 10?" This builds visual understanding.
- When shopping, give your child 10 items to count out, then ask them to split the items between two bags. How many in each?
- Sing number bond songs — there are plenty on YouTube. Repetition through music makes the facts stick.
Key Words
- Number bond — A pair of numbers that add together to make a given total (e.g. 3+7 is a bond to 10).
- Add — Put amounts together to find the total.
- Total — The answer when you add numbers together.
- Pair — Two numbers that go together.
- Part — One of the pieces that makes up a whole number.
Where This Fits
Before this topic: Children need to count reliably to 10 and understand that numbers represent amounts.
After this topic: Number bonds to 10 lead directly into number bonds to 20, then mental addition and subtraction strategies used throughout primary school.
How MathCraft Teaches This
In MathCraft, Number Bonds to 10 is taught through the Number & Fractions adventure track. Your child follows guided lessons with friendly characters, works through examples step by step, then practises with questions that adapt to their level.
The adaptive engine tracks mastery across all 4 steps, revisiting concepts your child finds tricky and advancing when they're ready. Parents can see detailed progress in the Parent Dashboard.
Practise Number Bonds to 10 with MathCraft
Step-by-step lessons, worked examples, and adaptive practice — all wrapped in an adventure game your child will love.
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