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Math · Ages 5–7 · 15 minutes

Number Bonds to 20: Missing-Part Stories

Short classroom and home stories give a reason to find the unknown part of a number bond rather than simply fill a blank.

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Number Bonds to 20: Missing-Part Stories

Name:                              
Date:              

Today I am practising: solving missing-addend word problems

1

12 apples are on a tray. 7 are red. How many are green? Draw a bond.

2

There are 15 crayons. 9 are in a cup. How many are on the table?

3

A class needs 20 chairs. 13 are set out. How many more are needed?

4

18 birds sit in two trees. 10 are in the oak. How many are in the pine?

5

Mia has 14 stickers. 6 are stars. How many are animals?

6

Write your own story for 16 split into two parts. Leave one part unknown.

Grown-up note: Ask your learner to explain one answer in their own words.

For the grown-up

How to teach this page

  1. Step 1Read each story once, then ask what number tells the whole.
  2. Step 2Let the child draw quick marks instead of detailed pictures.
  3. Step 3Ask them to check whether the two parts recombine to the story total.

Keep exploring

⭕Number Bonds to 20: Part-Part-Whole Circles →🔟Number Bonds to 20: Ten-Frame Bridge →🏠Number Bonds to 20: Fact Family House →