Building the Total

What Is Building the Total?

• Building the total is a way to see how different small numbers can be put together to make one specific big number.
• It shows us that there is more than one way to reach the same sum.
• This is often called finding number bonds or pairs.

Ways to Build a Number We can build a total by choosing two or more groups and joining them:

• To build the total of 5, we can use 4 and 1.
• We can also build 5 by using 2 and 3.
• Even though the groups are different sizes, the total stays the same.

Using the Part-Part-Whole Model This is a helpful tool to see how numbers fit together:

• The Whole: This is the big total number at the top.
• The Parts: These are the smaller numbers at the bottom that join to make the whole.
• If the Whole is 10, the Parts could be 5 and 5, or 8 and 2.

The Building Block Method You can use physical objects to practice:

1. Choose a target number (Example: 4).
2. Take that many blocks or buttons.
3. Split them into two separate piles.
4. Count how many are in each pile to see your number sentence (Example: 3 + 1 = 4).

Examples of Building Totals

Building the Number 6

• 5 + 1 = 6
• 4 + 2 = 6
• 3 + 3 = 6

Building the Number 10

• 9 + 1 = 10
• 5 + 5 = 10
• 7 + 3 = 10

Why Do We Learn This?

• It helps us understand that numbers are flexible and can be broken apart.
• It makes mental math much faster because we recognize patterns.
• It helps us solve hard problems by breaking them into smaller parts.

Lesson Summary

• Building the total means finding different parts that add up to one number.
• We use the Part-Part-Whole model to see how numbers fit together.
• There are many different ways to build the same sum.