Number Bonds to 5 – Colouring

Help children develop their understanding of number bonds to 5 with this engaging and visual colouring activity. Children use two different colours to colour the sticks in different ways, exploring the different combinations that can be used to make 5. This activity provides a simple visual representation of number composition and part-part-whole relationships. By colouring the sticks in two colours, children can see that the whole number 5 can be split into two parts in a variety of ways. Encourage children to systematically explore the different possibilities and try to find all the ways to make 5. This supports mathematical reasoning and helps children recognise that the same whole can be made using different combinations. The resource is ideal for Early Years and KS1 and can be used during whole-class maths sessions, small-group activities, independent learning, interventions or continuous provision. It is particularly useful for developing a secure understanding of number bonds before moving on to more complex addition and number bonds to 10. Children can practise: Learning number bonds to 5 Finding different ways to make 5 Exploring number composition Understanding part-part-whole relationships Recognising two parts that make a whole Developing early addition skills Counting accurately Using mathematical reasoning Identifying and recording different combinations Encourage children to use counters, cubes or other manipulatives alongside the activity to physically build the different number bonds. For example, children could make 5 using 1 and 4, 2 and 3, 3 and 2, 4 and 1 and discuss what they notice. You can also encourage children to explain their thinking using mathematical language, such as “1 and 4 make 5” or “5 is made from 2 and 3.” This helps develop confidence with number bonds and strengthens children's understanding of how numbers can be composed and partitioned. This hands-on and visual approach makes number bonds to 5 accessible and engaging while h