Number Bonds to 5 – Traditional Tales

Help children develop their understanding of number bonds to 5 with these visual five frames maths activities. Children use the pictures shown in each five frame to identify the two parts and complete the corresponding number sentence. The five frames provide a clear visual representation of quantities to 5, helping children recognise numbers without relying solely on counting. By looking carefully at the pictures, children can begin to see how different quantities combine to make the whole number 5. This activity supports children's understanding of number composition and part-part-whole relationships. Children can explore different ways to make 5 and develop the important connection between concrete or pictorial representations and mathematical number sentences. Encourage children to talk about what they can see before completing each sentence. Mathematical language such as “part,” “whole,” “altogether,” “make” and “number bond” can help children explain their reasoning and develop confidence when talking about number. This resource is ideal for Early Years and KS1 and can be used during whole-class maths lessons, small-group activities, independent learning, interventions or continuous provision. It is a useful resource for introducing and reinforcing the key concept of number bonds to 5. Children can practise: Learning number bonds to 5 Recognising quantities within 5 Finding different ways to make 5 Understanding part-part-whole relationships Using five frames to represent number Completing number sentences Developing early addition skills Counting and subitising Using mathematical language Explaining their mathematical thinking For additional practical learning, provide children with counters or small objects and ask them to recreate the pictures shown in the five frames. They can then move the objects around to explore different ways of making 5. You could also challenge children to find all the possible number bonds to 5 and record them as number sentences,