Understanding Number Bonds with Jenga Blocks

 

What exactly are number bonds?

One of my previous posts revolved around number decomposition and its significance. Number bonds play a key role in visualizing how a specific number can be composed and decomposed. For instance, number 5 can be decomposed into 2 and 3, thus 2 + 3 = 5. Hence, in this context, 2 and 3 together make up the number 5, and the number bond for 5 would be a simple addition statement:
2 + 3 = 5.

A number bond offers a mental image of the relationship between a number and the parts that combine to form it. The number 5 can have varied number bonds. For instance, 4 and 1 make 5, so 4 + 1 = 5, and 0 and 5 also make 5, so 0 + 5 = 5. The concept of number bonds is foundational. It helps students grasp crucial properties of numbers by understanding how whole numbers can be segmented into parts.

Why are number bonds crucial?

Number bonds enhance understanding of how numbers are composed, aiding students in mathematical thinking in various areas like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and percentages. Imagine a situation where your child needs to buy something for Rs 7, using one Rs 5 coin and a few Rs 2 coins. They need to understand that a Rs 5 coin and a Rs 2 coin make a total of Rs 7. Circumstances like these highlight the importance of understanding number bonds.

Number bonds also develop mental math skills, making calculations faster and simpler, thereby reducing reliance on written calculations and calculators. They also enable children to perceive patterns and relationships in numbers, proving that addition is commutative. This understanding is more impactful when students deduce these properties through exploration, rather than rote learning.

To foster this understanding of number bonds, we began using manipulatives at home. We transformed our Jenga blocks, originally meant for building towers, into a teaching aid for number bonds. Here's how we went about it:

Required Materials

• Jenga blocks
• Whiteboard/Blackboard
• Markers/Chalks

Pre-requisites

• Students should possess a basic understanding of addition to calculate the total of a given set of objects.
• Writing an addition statement is good to know but not essential.

Procedure

1. I sketch out two boxes on the whiteboard with a marker.
2. I place a bag full of Jenga blocks next to me.
3. My son picks up 2 Jenga blocks and puts them on the whiteboard.
4. To keep things exciting, I create a story around the blocks. For example, I might say, 'There are 2 chocolates and 2 friends Madhav and Samrat. In how many ways can you distribute the chocolates between the two?'
5. I model one example, saying 'One way could be that each friend gets one chocolate. So, 1 chocolate with Madhav and 1 chocolate with Samrat makes 2 chocolates.' Hence, 1 + 1 = 2.
6. He then explores other possibilities, distributing the chocolates in various ways, noting that 2 + 0 and 0 + 2 also make 2 chocolates.

1.       

After each distribution, we write the mathematical statement connecting the concrete explanation to the abstract form. [I wrote the mathematical statements since I have introduced Madhav to them. However, one can also draw a whole joining two parts to show that 2 can be decomposed into 1 and 1].

The whole 2 decomposed as 2 and 0.

The whole 2 decomposed as 0 and 2.

Once we were done with 2, we repeated the same activity with 3, 4, 5 and so on. 

In this way we can have students play around with blocks to make different numbers. This interactive activity helped Madhav make connections and also opened up conversations about emotions. For example when Madhav had 2 chocolates and Samrat had none, he said 'Madhav is happy but now Samrat is sad because he has no chocolates.' Connection to socio emotional learning, right?

This activity illustrates that we don't always need to buy manipulatives for teaching math concepts. Household items or already existing toys can be equally effective. Alternatives to Jenga blocks could be building blocks, Lego blocks, or same-sized popsicle sticks.

Introducing children to the concept of number bonds doesn't have to be a monotonous task. Turning it into a game using Jenga blocks not only enhances their understanding but also develops their enthusiasm for learning. You can create an interactive and engaging learning environment using everyday objects. In the process, children get to see math as a fun, intriguing subject rather than a tedious chore.