Number Bears

Setting up:
Decide which level of difficulty to play:
For younger players, practise number bonds 1-10 with the yellow cards.
For older players, use the blue cards for numbers 10-20.
To practise numbers 1-20, use all the coloured number cards.
Spread the small number cards face up, and the big number and honey cards* face down, in the middle of the table.
Each player chooses a bear board and places it in front of them.
Choose to play on either the addition or subtraction side.
Slot together your matching bear character and place it on the bear space at the bottom of the playing board.
*Only use two honey cards if practising number bonds 1-10 or 10-20.

Turn up a card: The youngest player starts.
Turn over a blue-backed card and place this target number on your board in the bear's paws.
Look at the small face up number cards and find the two numbers that equal the target number when added to or subtracted from each other.

Place the numbers on the small circle spaces on your board.
Note: Encourage players to use different number combinations if they turn over the same target number.
Are you correct: Ask a grown-up to check your answer. If you are correct, move your bear character one paw space along the playing board. If you answer incorrectly, stay where you are on the board. At the end of your turn, return all the number cards back to the middle of the table and shuffle the face down cards.
Play passes to the next player.
Honey Time: If you turn over a honey card, you must stay where you are on the playing board and miss your turn. Bears really like to eat honey! Return the card, face down, to the table and shuffle the cards.
Play passes to the next player
Race to your Cubs: The winner is the first player to move their bear character along the board and reach their cubs!

For younger players
Use this game as a teaching aid.
Is your child just starting to learn number bonds? By removing the playing board and honey cards you can practise number bonds without the 'game' element.
Decide which target numbers to include and work through different combinations to reach the number. Use the number line to help!