Number Bonds to 10 – Planets

Description

Help children develop a secure understanding of number bonds to 10 with this fun and engaging aliens and astronauts maths activity. Children investigate different combinations of aliens and astronauts that can fit on a planet with space for exactly 10 creatures.

To prepare the activity, laminate the planets and cut out the individual aliens and astronauts. You may wish to make multiple copies of the creature sheet so that children have enough resources to explore a range of different combinations.

Explain to children that each planet has space for 10 creatures. Challenge them to investigate how many different combinations of aliens and astronauts they can make while keeping the total at 10.

This hands-on activity provides a clear way for children to explore number composition and part-part-whole relationships. Children can physically move the aliens and astronauts onto the planet, helping them see how two parts combine to make the whole number 10.

Encourage children to explain what they have found using mathematical language. For example, they might say “There are 4 aliens and 6 astronauts. That makes 10 altogether.” This supports children in connecting practical experiences with spoken number sentences and developing confidence when explaining their mathematical thinking.

This resource is ideal for Early Years and KS1 and can be used as part of a focus group, small-group maths activity, independent learning or classroom provision. It provides an engaging context for children to investigate and discover number bonds rather than simply memorising them.

Children can practise:

Learning number bonds to 10
Finding different ways to make 10
Exploring number composition
Understanding part-part-whole relationships
Counting accurately
Recognising quantities
Developing early addition skills
Using mathematical vocabulary
Explaining mathematical thinking
Investigating and recording number combinations

Encourage children to find as many different combinations as possible and discuss what they notice. Ask questions such as “How many aliens could go on the planet?”, “How many astronauts would you need?” and “Can you find another way to make 10?”

You could extend the activity by asking children to record their combinations as number sentences, for example 4 + 6 = 10, 3 + 7 = 10 or 5 + 5 = 10. Children could also investigate what happens when the two parts are swapped.

This practical and playful activity makes learning number bonds to 10 meaningful and engaging, while helping children develop strong number sense, addition skills, reasoning and an understanding of how numbers can be composed and partitioned.