We have been supporting children developing an awareness of number across the nursery this week. 

We want children to count with one to one correspondence.
Begin to recognise numerals 1-10 and beyond.
Some children will begin to solve simple calculations , such as one more, one less.
 
One meaningful way children have been supported is through 10 pin bowling in the garden.
Children and staff organised a bowling alley by placing large wooden bricks in a rectangle shape, making sure the length on the long sides matched. 
They then counted 10 coloured 'pins' and stood them up.
Children took it in turns to roll the ball and count how many pins they could knock down. They had a second turn and combined the number they knocked down to make a total.  "3 and 2 is 5" one child exclaimed when I was observing.
Children then marked the number on the board: some children used lines to tally their score. Others attempted to scribe the numeral. 
Taking turns, problem solving and organisation have all been supported too during the week. Increasingly children are now setting up and leading the game without adult support.

Find ways to get your child to count and problem solve at home: maybe helping with sorting the washing, pairing socks, counting spoons or cups for meal time. Look out for numbers on your way to school: door numbers, number plates on cars and vans, bus numbers and signs all around us. 

We know how important young children developing confidence and skill in mark making is. 
From the earliest days in Red Building through to leavers in the Main Building, we ensure children have access to mark making every day. We support building children's dexterity first through a range of ways:

• Cooking (kneading dough is great for this)
• Preparing snacks using one handed tools (peelers, graters, knives) 
• Exploring messy play with hands
• Developing upper body strength in climbing and rope swing play
• Threading beads and sewing
• Mark making in shaving foam using fingers
• Mark making in fine sand 
• Making mud pies with hands in the garden
• Weeding and harvesting vegetables in the garden
• Sculpting with clay
• Exploring playdough in the home corner
• Finger painting
• Painting using brushes
• Large scale drawing on huge paper on the floor (the back of wallpaper rolls is great for this)
• Chalk mark making in the garden on the floor
• Painting with brushes and rollers using water in the garden
• Chunky felt tips are great for little fingers

Once children have developed the dexterity then we need to give them reasons to mark make!
Encouraging children to mark make and then talk about their marks empowers them to share their ideas. 
Watching adults draw and write and seeing handwriting in the environment is important so make sure your children write lists at home, draw pictures, make birthday cards (don't buy them), shopping lists, notes for family: so many opportunities.