Number Bond Template
Blank bonds to fill.
A number bond template is a blank part-part-whole diagram consisting of a large circle connected to two smaller circles by lines. Students in kindergarten through grade 3 use it to explore how any number can be broken apart into two smaller numbers and put back together again. Teachers hand it out during number sense lessons to make addition and subtraction feel visual and concrete rather than abstract. Parents print it for homework practice to reinforce what children are learning at school. Because the template is completely blank, it works for any target number — from simple combinations within 5 to bridging through 10 or exploring facts up to 20. Reuse a single printed copy by sliding it into a dry-erase pocket, or laminate the sheet and let students write and wipe repeatedly throughout the year.
Learning objectives
- Build fluency with number decomposition
- Visualise part-part-whole relationships
- Practise related addition and subtraction facts
- Strengthen number sense for numbers 1–20
- Support mental maths strategies
How to use this template
- Download and print the PDF on standard A4 or Letter paper.
- Write the target whole number in the large top circle.
- Fill one smaller circle with a known part; work out and write the missing part.
- Say or write the matching number sentences (e.g. 6 = 4 + 2, 6 – 4 = 2).
- Slide into a dry-erase sleeve or laminate to reuse with new numbers.
Classroom & home ideas
- Morning warm-up: project a giant bond on the board and call on students to supply missing parts.
- Pair work: one partner writes the whole, the other writes one part; both solve for the missing piece.
- Differentiation: give struggling students cubes to build the bond physically before writing numbers.
- Assessment: fill five bonds in five minutes as a quick fluency check at lesson end.
- Home link: send home a laminated copy so parents can quiz children on fact families at dinner.
Skills & curriculum links
Frequently asked questions
What numbers can I use with this template?
Any whole number your students are working with — typically 2 through 20 for K–3, but the blank design handles larger numbers too.
Can I use it for subtraction as well as addition?
Yes. Writing the whole at the top and one part in a circle naturally prompts students to find the missing addend, which is the foundation of subtraction.
Is the template reusable?
Slide it into a clear plastic sleeve and use dry-erase markers, or laminate it — either way one printout lasts all year.
How many bonds fit on one page?
The standard version has six bonds per sheet, giving students room to practise multiple decompositions in a single sitting.
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