The Partitioning Numbers Assessment: Foundation is a fun, frog-themed activity that supports students in developing a deep understanding of part-part-whole relationships. Aligned with the Australian Curriculum (AC9MFN04), this engaging worksheet helps students explore how numbers can be partitioned into two parts, reinforcing early number sense and addition concepts. Through visual and hands-on learning, students demonstrate their ability to compose and decompose numbers while recognising the equality between parts and the whole.

This assessment provides an ideal way to evaluate students’ understanding of number composition in a structured yet enjoyable format. By identifying different combinations that make up the same total, students strengthen their mathematical reasoning and build confidence in flexible thinking about numbers. The editable rubric allows teachers to easily record student progress, making this an effective tool for ongoing assessment, reporting, or targeted support.

Designed for individual, small-group, or guided maths settings, this resource encourages discussion, reasoning, and hands-on exploration. Students are supported in moving from concrete manipulation with counters or cubes to more abstract written representations of number relationships.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Recognise and represent part-part-whole relationships in numbers
• ✅ Partition whole numbers into two or more parts in different ways
• ✅ Demonstrate equality between the parts and the whole
• ✅ Build foundational understanding for addition and subtraction
• ✅ Explain and record number relationships using words, drawings, or symbols

What’s Included:

• Editable frog-themed worksheet for partitioning numbers
• Two main assessment questions covering simple and multiple partitions
• Part-part-whole templates for visual modelling
• Editable rubric aligned with Foundation curriculum outcome AC9MFN04

Materials Needed:

• Printed worksheet
• Pencils or crayons
• Optional: counters, connecting cubes, or small manipulatives for hands-on support

How to Use:

1. Introduce or review the concept of part-part-whole using concrete materials and a number story (e.g., “There are 5 frogs on a log. 2 jump away. How many are left?”).
2. Question 1: Students read the number shown on each frog and record two parts beneath it that add together to make the total.
3. Question 2: Students explore multiple partitions of the number 8, showing three different ways to make the same total using the part-part-whole model.
4. Encourage students to use manipulatives or draw dots to represent their thinking before recording the numbers.
5. Use the editable rubric to document observations and assess understanding.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Incorporate into a small-group maths rotation for focused support
• 💡 Use as a pre- and post-assessment for a number composition unit
• 💡 Pair with manipulatives such as unifix cubes or counters to scaffold learning

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Encourage students to explain their reasoning aloud using the language of ‘whole’ and ‘parts’
• 💛 Display part-part-whole examples on a maths wall for students to reference
• 💛 Model multiple ways to make the same number to show flexibility in thinking

The Partitioning Numbers Assessment offers a practical and engaging way for Foundation students to explore how numbers can be composed and decomposed. With its blend of visual learning, concrete manipulation, and written recording, this assessment supports students in building lasting number fluency while providing teachers with meaningful evidence for tracking growth and understanding.