Maths Through Play

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.