Short Blocks

Maths Reception Autumn Comparison and Measures

Hamilton's Reception Maths planning targets the key characteristics of effective early learning:

  • Through Exploring and Playing, children independently engage with their peers and their environment.
  • Active Learning group activities promote the motivation needed to be involved and to keep trying.
  • Guided Creating and Thinking Critically supports development of problem-solving & reasoning skills.

Maths Out Loud: whole-class counting, repetitive chants, rhymes, songs and a linked story to enjoy together.

Comparing lengths (suggested as 5 days)

Maths Out Loud

Counting

Count 10 soft toys into a box.

Take 1 out, saying ‘9 left’. Take out another out saying ‘8’.

Children join in counting back until you reach 0. Show the empty box.

Chants/Rhymes/Songs

Sing ‘Five little speckled frogs’, with 5 children at the front, jumping into a ‘pond’ one at a time. Children agree the number left before continuing.

Or sing along to this animated version of 'Five little speckled frogs' from www.bbc.co.uk. Children hold up the matching number of fingers for each verse.

Story

I’m Coming to Get You by Tony Ross. This is great for discussing how big things are!

You Will Need

Exploring and Playing

Chalk or tape; two play railway stations; curved and straight railway track pieces; tape measures; baby dolls of different lengths; different length construction brick.

Active Learning

3 different length snakes in 3 different colours; sticky-tack; flip-chart; access to leaves outside; glue sticks; paper; play dough; cubes; 30cm rulers; bean bag.

Creating and Thinking Critically

3 different size teddies; 2 different length ‘blankets’ (pieces of cloth) and scarves; access to the playground; playground chalk; a paper snake for each child; crayons (all the same length); paint; brushes; newspaper; long strips of paper for the crossroads; paper for traffic lights; lots of similar-sized cars.