Elf Number Bond Game

A really important Early Years maths skill is to understand the composition of numbers ie. that a whole number is made up of smaller parts. 

The idea of this game is that the red and yellow elves have been asked to make 5 presents (so you need 5 double sided counters or DIY with red + yellow card stuck together!) and we are exploring the different combinations of red and yellow presents that would make the whole 5. 

How to play:

1) Hold 5 double sided counters in your hands and shake them up and down whilst chanting:

"It is nearly Christmas Day,

How many presents have we made?!"

2) Release the counters from your hands. Separate them into the two part circles.

3) Discuss: How many red presents are there? How many yellow presents are there? How many are there altogether? Who has made the most/least?

4) If you want to add a competitive element to this game, choose an elf each and the most presents wins the round. Keep a tally - whoever has made the most presents after 10 rounds is the winner!

See @numberbuzz on Instagram for a demo of this game being played!

(NB. When two numbers join together to make another number, they are known as number bonds. By the end of Reception, children are expected to automatically recall bonds up to 5 and some number bonds to 10. The 'whole' circle has been left blank but I would recommend starting with 3 and gradually working your way up as your child's understanding of number bonds improves).