Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Rocket Bonds Board Game: Free Printable Game for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Rocket Bonds Board Game is a free printable maths game for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6). Two to four players race to the finish along a track to 30. Before each move, a player says a number bond. Children practise number bonds to 10 and counting forwards and back along the track.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. It is two A4 pages. Page 1 is the game for children. Page 2 is for the grown-up, with notes on how to use the sheet, help ideas and a stretch idea. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children play a race game along a track to 30. Each player says a number bond before they move, so the practice is part of the play. Players count forwards along the track and sometimes back, which builds a feel for how numbers sit in order. The game is for two to four players, so it works with friends, brothers and sisters, a small group or a whole table.
Ways to build the skill before and during the game
Show the bond with counters
Put counters in two small groups and count them all. Say the bond aloud. Try it with small totals first, such as 3 and 2 making 5, then move on to bonds to 10.
Swap the two groups
Keep the groups the same size, but swap which one sits on the left and which on the right. Count again. The total stays the same. This shows that adding in a different order gives the same total.
Count on from the bigger group
Start at the number in the bigger group and count on the rest, rather than counting everything from one. It is quicker and links neatly to counting along the game track.
Cover and guess
Show a total, then hide some counters under a cup. Ask how many are hidden. Lift the cup to check. This is a gentle way to practise finding the missing part of a bond.
What are number bonds?
A number bond is a pair of numbers that add together to make a given total. Children in Year 1 focus on bonds to 10, because ten is the base of our number system. When a child knows these pairs without counting, adding larger numbers becomes much easier. They also help later with subtraction, because a bond links addition and subtraction.
A race game gives children a reason to say bonds aloud and to hear other players say theirs. Moving along a track also helps. The squares work like a number line, so children can see numbers getting bigger as they move forwards and smaller as they move back. Taking turns and checking each other adds talk and teamwork.
Skills and curriculum link
- Number bonds to 10
- Counting on
- Counting back
- Number track to 30
- Taking turns
Ideas for the grown-up
- Say it out loudAsk players to say the whole bond, not just one number. Hearing and saying the full pair helps it stick.
- Use real objectsCounters, buttons or small toys make each bond visible. Children can build a pair, count it and then say it.
- Praise the thinkingIf a player makes a mistake, ask how they worked it out. Then try again with counters. Effort and checking matter more than speed.
- Keep rounds shortTwo quick games are better than one long one. Stop while children still want to play.
Key words
- Number bondTwo numbers that add together to make a bigger number, such as 3 and 2 making 5.
- TotalThe number you get when you add two numbers together.
- Count onStart at one number and count up from there.
- Count backStart at one number and say the numbers that come before it.
- TrackThe path of squares on the board. Players move along it in number order.
- TurnYour go in the game. Each player has a turn, one after another.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the children. Keep page 2 for the grown-up.
- Read the rules aloud together before you start, so everyone plays the same game. Choose two to four players.
- Play the first game together and talk about each choice. Each player says a bond before they move.
- Check against the notes on page 2. Take turns being the person who listens and checks.
- Come back to the game another day and swap who goes first. Repeating a familiar game builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Use counters to build each bond if needed. Put the counters in two groups, count them all and say the bond aloud. Start with small totals before bonds to 10. Let the child touch each counter as they count, and play slowly.
To stretch confident children
Ask confident children to say the bond to 20 instead of the bond to 10. They can also say a subtraction fact that goes with their bond. Or ask them to find two different bonds for the same total before they move.
Make it a game
Race again and swap who goes first. Players can also try to say a different bond each turn, so nobody repeats one that has already been used in that game. Agree the new rule before you start, so everyone plays the same game.
Talk about it
- How do you know your bond is right?
- Can you show that bond with counters?
- What happens when you swap the two numbers over?
- Where are you on the track now, and how far is it to 30?
- Is it easier to count on or to count back here? Why?
- Which bond did you find hardest, and which did you know straight away?
Take it off the page
Counter pairs
Put ten counters or buttons on the table. Split them into two groups and say the bond. Push them together, split them a new way and say the next bond.
Rocket track on the floor
Draw a chalk track outdoors or lay paper squares in a line. Children jump along it, counting forwards and back, and say a bond at each jump.
Hide and find
Hide some of a small group of toys under a cloth. Say how many there were at the start. The child works out how many are hidden, then checks by lifting the cloth.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first game and let them lead. Say your own bonds aloud so they hear the pattern. Keep it light, stop while it is still fun and play again another day.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework task or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups, and the game suits a small group of two to four.
Home educators
Use it alongside books, outdoor play and everyday talk about numbers. It is free to print again for brothers and sisters, or for revision a few weeks later. It fits well into a wider maths plan.
Where this fits in maths
Before this game, children count objects, recognise numbers and learn to count forwards and back in order. They then meet number bonds with small totals, usually using real objects. Playing along a track builds on this, because it links counting to the order of numbers.
After this, children use bonds to add and subtract within 20, make tens and solve simple number stories. Knowing number bonds well helps with Year 2 work on adding two digit numbers. Repeating a game like this gives the facts time to become automatic.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Rocket Bonds Board Game for?
It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6), in Key Stage 1. Younger children can join in with a grown-up and counters. Older children can use the stretch idea and say bonds to 20.
- What will children practise?
Children practise number bonds to 10 and counting forwards and back along a track to 30. They also practise taking turns, listening to other players and saying their thinking out loud.
- How many people can play?
Two to four players can play. Each player says a bond before they move. It works well with friends, brothers and sisters, or a small group in class.
- What if the game feels too hard?
Use counters to build each bond if needed. Put the counters in two groups, count them all and say the bond. Starting with small totals first can help children feel confident before they move on.
- Is it free to use in class?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add colour themselves if they like, but it is not needed to play the game.
- Can I use it for home education?
Yes. Home educators and tutors can use it on its own or as part of a wider maths plan. Because it is free to print, you can use it again for brothers, sisters or revision.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.