Mathematics: Getting into shape
Develop children's mathematical skills by supporting them to cut food into shapes to produce a varied and colourful salad. Help them to link the shapes they have created with those in the environment.
Develop children's mathematical skills by supporting them to cut food into shapes to produce a varied and colourful salad. Help them to link the shapes they have created with those in the environment.
Invite children to solve problems to do with shape, space and measure by weaving them into exciting narratives featuring favourite superheros and popular picture book characters.
Identifying patterns in the natural and man-made worlds is a great way to develop an awareness of sequencing and basic geometry, as well as developing vocabulary and powers of observation.
Try these ideas for using resources to create tangible ‘number frames’ from one to ten. Children can have fun engaging with number physically while developing key mathematical thinking skills.
Try these ideas for using resources to create tangible ‘number frames’ from one to ten. Children can have fun engaging with number physically while developing key mathematical thinking skills.
Winter is nearly over and if you’ve recently done an audit of your outdoor space, you might now be thinking about giving your mud kitchen a revamp, and introducing some new resources. If you haven’t yet set up a mud kitchen, now is definitely the time to start planning one.
In this last in a series on ‘maths talk’, we look at using heuristic play to introduce shape names and terminology, and explore linked activities that encourage children to confidently use new words.
'There's no such thing as bad weather – just inappropriate clothing,' as the saying goes. Use children’s colourful winter clothing as a link to many areas of learning.
For young children, mathematical learning and development is all about the concepts of quantity, space and distance. At this early stage, the hands on exploration of these concepts is of key importance – and a Tuff Tray makes the perfect resource.
Try these easy-to-play games which will entertain children and extend their physical and communication skills, while out for a stroll.
Autumn leaves are a key sign of the changing seasons and make a colourful, accessible and versatile resource for play and exploration. The beauty of them is that at this time of the year they are available in abundance – and completely free.
Take time to make a tactile exploration of number. Claire Hewson suggests using petroleum jelly, flour and glitter to make slimy tracings and repeating patterns which children can identify and compare.
To understand the concepts of weight and measure children need to explore, experiment and get their hands dirty. This becomes all the more relevant when placed in the context of a picture book narrative.
Sal McKeown discovers how digital program Mathseeds is putting the fun into the learning and practising of key mathematical concepts at a London primary, and why teachers find it an easy resource to navigate.
There is one thing you can predict about a British summer, it is completely unpredictable! But as we know, with the right assortment of clothes, we go outside come rain or shine.
This month, we start a new series based on the maths area of learning in the foundation stage, providing an A-Z of activities that will help children progress while having fun.
This month, we continue our series based on the maths area of learning in the foundation stage, providing an A-Z of activities that will help children progress while having fun.
We hear a great deal about children being ‘school ready’, which sounds like something both very definitive and well documented, but what does this mean for childminders?
A keen interest, verging on a slight obsession with transport, can lead to some specific learning opportunities. Here, we use wheels to help children move streets ahead.
This month, we continue our series based on the maths area of learning in the foundation stage, providing an A-Z of activities that will help children progress while having fun.
This month, we continue our series based on the maths area of learning in the foundation stage, providing an A-Z of activities that will help children progress while having fun.
Continuing our exploration of the prime and specific areas of learning, this month we focus on the specific area of maths and discuss how we can support the children in our settings.
Try Hilary White’s ideas for making maths fun with guessing games linked to measurement and shape that are full of surprises. Support children to extend their learning with a well-resourced games area.
In this article, we revisit Talk for Maths Mastery and use a selection of case studies that explain and advise on how we can support and appreciate children’s mathematical mark making and thinking in reception classes.
We resume our series of articles that look at the possibilities for play and learning inherent in certain popular and common early years resources and materials – this month, the weather.