Serial Adding - Spot the Bonds

Another number bonds resource; but this one is a perfect starter activity.

The activity gives children plenty of practice at looking for bonds to 10 hidden in a series of numbers... Why? To aid their calculation skills.

For example, when adding 6 + 2 + 4 it is a useful strategy to mentally gather together the digits that add to 10:

6 + 2 + 4               = 10 + 2               = 12

7  + 3 + 8               = 10 + 8               = 18

At first, children may want to write the number sentence and draw rings around the necessary digits, or link them together with a coloured line. Later, this should develop into a pure mental method. There is no strong 'educational' reason for children to write out the stages (as illustrated above) at any time.

The download file includes 24 cards with 3 numbers, and 24 card with 5 numbers. The latter set feature strings of numbers with two sets of bonds to 10:

6 + 2 + 4 + 3 + 8               = 10 + 10 + 3               = 23

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As a starter activity, let the children work with talking partners as they look at a few of the cards with 3 numbers. Give them an opportunity to discuss any strategies they might use to sum all of the numbers, then ask them if they notice anything about the numbers... this could lead into talking about bonds to 10 and the specific addition strategy.

With practice, most children should be able to look at the string of numbers, find the bonds to 10 and immediately call out the total. Once children are used to this, move on to 'real' number strings (phone numbers, strings produced by rolling a dice several times... etc.).

The resource features speech bubble-shapes because, as an extension activity, some children could be given the task of reading the string of numbers to their partner in order for them to total the numbers without even seeing them. This, if used correctly, is a fantastic confidence booster!

As with all mathstick resources, if you find an alternative way to use this please let us know.

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