Last Updated on October 18, 2023 by Editorial Team
Number Bonds is a great tool for little learners to get started on learning how numbers work. It is a very beginning step that teachers use to teach kids the basic concepts of arithmetic. Students familiarize themselves with addition and subtraction facts with the help of number bonds.
For those still unaware, Number bonds are the relationship between the numbers and the parts/pairs that make them. Let us take the example of the whole number 15. Number 15 can be achieved if we add the numbers of any of the pairs below;
1 – 14, 2 – 13, 3 – 12, 4 -11, 5 – 10, 6 – 9, 7 – 8, and the reversed numbers of the pairs.
Here, the pairs (also known as parts) forming 15 are called the Number Bonds of the number 15. Similarly, we can form the subtraction pair to reach the number 15 such as 21 – 6, 27- 12, etc. Follow an easy diagram to understand it better.
Number bonds are really fun to learn. Teachers can arrange number bonds to 10 or more activities to make number bonds more fun and interactive. Even at home, there are ample opportunities to learn about number bonds other than in books like free printable number bond charts.
If you are familiar with our blog, then you know how we always advocate early adaptation to a topic with good practice. A strong impression early in life gives you an easy route to more complicated topics in the future. One thing that always works out well when dealing with such topics is mixing it with fun. There are numerous ways, but a prominent one is to present it to the kids in a form that they like the most.
Yes, you guessed it right! GAMES. May it be indoor, outdoor, board, or mobile games. Kids learn while playing. They develop analytical, strategical, and spatial skills while doing it.
Keeping that in mind, we curated a list of the top 10 free online games for learning number bonds. Here we go :
Best Online Number Bonds Games
1. Monster Math
Monster Math is an educational adventure platform game that improves over 70 math skills including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractions. Levels related to number bonds such as addition & subtraction to 10, and 20 are also included.
So, it is justifiable to say that monster math is a complete package. The gameplay involves guiding the player by giving answers to math equations to kill monsters and obstacles. The best part of the game is the customizability. You can configure the level of the game according to the pace. It covers the age group of students from KG to Grade 5th.
Developed by Makkajai: Math Games for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade, Monster Math has been installed in more than 100,000 devices worldwide. It’s currently sitting at 4.0-star ratings on the Play Store.
App Links: Playstore | Appstore
2. Number Bonds
Number Bonds by Sandrico Software is a simple mobile game app for learning number bonds. As clear as is it from the description, this app includes levels for you to learn basic addition and subtraction using number bonds and number sentences.
The app is inspired by the most common number bond template that elementary teachers use in number bond practice activities. The gameplay is simple as it involves solving as many problems as you can. This game is currently available on the Play Store only.
App Link: Playstore
3. Number Bonds Adventure Free
Number Bond Adventure is an app that teaches number bonds through ‘Singapore Mathematics’ or the Singapore teaching methodology. Students in Singapore are known to excel in mathematics and mixing Singapore mathematics with a fun game app helps the child embark on a maths adventure of collecting cute animals through the completion of number bonds. The number of questions has been balanced at each stage to keep within the attention span of the child so that the journey never for a moment becomes tedious!
App Link: Playstore
4. Number Bonds Games Online
This interactive game by Matheasily is another pick to help kids improve their skills to solve number bond problems. Though the game does not have a lot going on on the screen, it offers what students need. Practicing addition and subtraction by keeping alternate windows on the house empty for problem-solving.
Kids have the option to select the difficulty level. They can solve number bond questions with sums up to 5, 10, 20, and all the way to 1000. Once numbers appear on the windows of the house, the player must calculate the number that must be filled on the empty window to get the desired sum. After filling in the answer, players can check their response by clicking the button provided. If the number is highlighted in green, the answer is correct. But if it is red, the player must try again.
App Link: Web App
5. Early Learning Abacus
The abacus, be it any type, is a great tool for kids to developmental math. These aids help in improving speed in solving mathematical operations, such as addition and subtraction without the need for pen and paper.
In addition to that, Abacus is a great tool for kids to practice number bonds as well. Early Learning Abacus promises to deliver that. Unlike the traditional abacus, this one is developed especially for young learners and does not calculate in powers of 10. The prime goal is to improve counting.
Number bonds can be practiced as well. There are endless opportunities in this abacus game. It’s all up to you how you want to perceive the game. Use beads to learn how we reached a particular number.
App Link: Appstore
6. Addition Flash Cards
Addition flashcards are an all-rounder package for improving the additional skills to the next level. The game is really engaging as it includes a variety of matching games, speed challenges, and quizzes to encourage math practice with options for preschool, kindergarten, 1st-grade, and 2nd-grade lessons.
The app strictly follows the common core standard contents of learning. So, this app ensures that kids learn in a fun way while sticking to the curriculum. Number Bonds practice is also involved in its content. You can practice number bonds to 20 and work out various addition and subtraction equations.
App Link: Playstore | Appstore
7. Number Bonds to 20
Number Bonds to 20 by Math Playground is a really interesting math game. It helps you practice basic addition facts in quite an interesting way. You can select any number between 10-20 as your target number. Random number balls slowly move elliptically to the hole. You, as a player, have to shoot your numbered ball at the moving balls.
Shoot on the specific ball with the number that adds up with yours to match the target number. This game encourages you to think ahead as you have to prevent the balls from reaching the hole. Shoot as many balls to make the perfect number of bonds.
App Link: Web App
8. Make a Number up to 5
This free game by Splashlearn helps you practice your addition facts skills to compose a bigger number and decompose a number within 5 into pairs. You are asked to make a number with several options in each step. Select the right option to get it correct.
One good thing about this is that it covers common core concepts so you are playing and learning while sticking to the curriculum. The first few steps involve choosing bonds of blocks that correctly match the target number. As the level goes up, the player is required to solve simple math equations to match the target number.
App Link: Web App
9. Number Bond Catapult
King ordered you to destroy the old castle. You, as a player, have to fire the projectile to destroy the castle. You need to use your number bond skills to bridge the gap for 10 to work out how far to fire your projectile. It takes around 13 hits to destroy a castle.
Each time you destroy a castle you will gain a yellow castle medal. The stars give you a sense of how many you are getting right/wrong. Lots of stars mean lots of correct answers. The game is unique with minimalist graphics and makes sure kids engage for hours while learning addition facts and number bond skills.
App Link: Web App
10. Save The Whale
Save the Whale is quite an interesting game to practice number bonds to 10. The center of the theme is saving the whale. The whale is trapped in the lake. Your goal is to add the lengths of the pipe until you get the target number i.e. 10. Then you click on the wheel valve to pour the water into the lake. If you got it correct, the whale will swim off to the sea. This is a mobile-friendly game and is currently available on ICTgames.com
App Link: Web App
11. Fuzz Bugs Factory Number Bonds
Help the fuzz bugs create number bonds in their factory and see them toss and turn in the machinery! This fun game comes with a unique challenge where players must drop a fuzz bug with the correct number so it can make a number bond with their friend to form the number displayed at the ground level of the factory.
With every correct answer, a new floor is added to the factory, which means more fun as the fuzz bugs bounce and pass through each floor to reach the bottom. The game allows players to customize the gameplay by selecting the number they wish to work on. Overall, Fuzz Bugs Factory is a fun, dynamic game with an interesting background score to keep players glued to it for a long time.
App Link: Web App
Conclusion
The ability to form number bond pairs in mind is the baby step to understanding numbers and their complexities in advanced mathematics. It also improves the student’s overall mental maths agility. Thus, the above games will help our early learners to understand and utilize the existence of these number bonds, while at the same time, hopefully, establishing a lifelong friendship with the numbers.
An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’,