Using Number Bonds During Your Daily Math Routine

How do you mix up your calendar routine? I love mixing in some of the elements from our daily math routine so students get to see a concrete example of the new skills we are working on. A great hands on tool is a number bond. 

This isn't something that I want to have on my board all of the time so it's super simple just to draw in 3 circles (I like to label them too). We use magnets to work out problems on the board. 

This one is on a poster so I can lay it flat in front of us while we work out the word problem together. Using this model allows us to use real life items to really have a concrete model.

For example, I may start a story problem like this:
Levi has 3 blocks to build a tower. His sister has 3 more blocks. How many legos do they have all together?
Students can use this model to show what is happening in the story.

 Then we physically slide all of the blocks down together to show that this is what Levi has with his sister all together.

Another example with fruit. Jack brought 2 tangerines in his lunch. His friend Max brought 2 tangerines in his lunch. How many tangerines do Jack and Max have together?

I love that the circles are nice and big and we can fit all types of manipulatives on the number bond and have a visual representation of the number problem.

 Once we use these with result unknown problems we can start to use the same model with more complicated problems like change unknown (2 + ? = 4) or start unknown (? + 2 = 4).

Here is an example of change unknown.

I went to the beach and found 3 sea shells. My brother found some too. We took home 7 shells from the beach today. How many did my brother find?

After working with these hands on models we are ready to work out problems on these Morning Math pages or in Math Journals. Both of these routines lead to great math conversations during our daily calendar routine because with practice students can explain their reasoning and make sense of complicated problems. It is the perfect supplement to our required curriculum!

What types of hands on activities do you like to use during your calendar routine? I love mixing it up! Want to save this idea for later? Pin it to your favorite classroom ideas board here!