Help your students master the important skill of number bonds to 10 with our engaging Friends of Ten Rainbow Facts resource! This fun and flexible activity supports students in learning and consolidating the different pairs of numbers that make 10 - an essential building block for number sense, mental addition, and problem-solving. The colourful rainbow theme adds visual appeal and makes learning these key facts both memorable and enjoyable.

The resource includes a set of rainbow cards designed to help introduce the rainbow strategy for Friends of Ten. Each rainbow is split in half, with a number on one side and the corresponding friend of ten on the other. These cards can be used in a simple matching game where students pair up the correct halves, or as a game of memory to add an extra challenge and encourage deeper recall. This hands-on element provides valuable opportunities for repetition and fluency building through playful learning.

In addition to the game cards, Friends of Ten Rainbow Facts also includes three different worksheets. On these sheets, students complete missing number tasks by filling in the friend of ten for each rainbow fact. This written component gives students a chance to consolidate their understanding independently and provides useful opportunities for assessment and reflection. The combination of visual, hands-on, and written activities makes this resource highly versatile and suitable for a wide range of learners.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Develop fluency with number bonds to 10
• ✅ Strengthen understanding of number relationships and patterns
• ✅ Build confidence in mental addition and subtraction
• ✅ Promote strategic thinking through the rainbow visual strategy
• ✅ Foster independence and positive engagement with number facts

What’s Included:

• Set of rainbow cards (split in half for matching or memory games)
• Three Friends of Ten worksheets for written practise
• Teacher notes with tips for classroom use and differentiation

Materials Needed:

• Printed and cut rainbow cards (laminate for durability)
• Printed worksheets for individual practise
• Storage bag or container for organising rainbow cards
• Pencils for completing the worksheets

How to Use:

1. Print and cut the rainbow cards. Laminate for durability if desired.
2. Introduce the rainbow strategy for Friends of Ten using the visual cards as a teaching tool.
3. Use the cards in a simple matching game: students pair the correct halves of each rainbow to form a complete Friends of Ten pair.
4. For an added challenge, play as a game of memory: place all halves face down and have students flip two at a time, trying to find matching Friends of Ten pairs.
5. Provide students with the worksheets to complete as an independent task, filling in the missing number for each rainbow fact to reinforce understanding.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use during maths rotations to reinforce Friends of Ten through games and written practise
• 💡 Incorporate into small group instruction to introduce and explore the rainbow strategy
• 💡 Offer as an independent activity for early finishers or as part of a number facts learning centre
• 💡 Pair students to encourage collaborative learning and discussion while playing matching or memory games
• 💡 Use worksheets for assessment, consolidation, or to track progress over time

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Laminate the rainbow cards for repeated use across multiple lessons and groups
• 💛 Model how to use the rainbow visual to understand and remember Friends of Ten facts
• 💛 Encourage students to explain their thinking and strategies aloud during games and practise
• 💛 Provide opportunities to revisit the resource regularly to build fluency and confidence over time

Friends of Ten Rainbow Facts is a fun, flexible, and highly effective resource for helping students build fluency with this key set of number facts. The combination of visual, hands-on, and written activities ensures a rich learning experience that supports number sense and mental maths development - all with a bright and engaging rainbow theme!