Number Bonds

First grade has been learning all about number bonds. Number bonds are when you have a whole number that can broken into two or three parts. For example, 10 is made up of 6 and 4 or 10 is made up of 6 and 3 and 1. Morah illustrated this idea at the board.



Doing number bonds in our notebooks

Example of a number bond

Below the children are using connecting cubes to show the two or three parts of a whole number. Morah gave them the number 8 and they had to break it down between two or three numbers.

Another way of showing this idea is by using a Math Balance. This is a learning tool that can help students conceptualize two or three parts of a whole number by seeing if the parts on one side of the balance will equal the whole number on the other side of the balance. 

Morah Kathy demonstrating how to use the Math Balance



The Math Balance