Exploring and Playing
Short Blocks
Maths Reception Autumn Shapes and Patterns (B)
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.
Counting in 2s; odd/even numbers (suggested as 5 days)
Active Learning
Creating and Thinking Critically
Maths Out Loud
Counting
Count to 20 WITHOUT the support of a number track or 1-100 grid. Children hold up a finger for each number to 10, then one finger for 11, 2 for 12 and so on, and wave 1 or 2 hands for 5, 10, 15, 20, shouting these numbers.
Be sure to pronounce the teens numbers very clearly, so children don’t confuse them with the 10s numbers, e.g. confuse fifteen with fifty.
This is an activity which needs regular repetition so that more and more children learn the teens numbers in order by heart.
Chants/Rhymes/Songs
One, two, buckle my shoe. Children could join in with this animated version of One, two, buckle my shoe from www.bbc.co.uk.
Story
Eggs and Legs: Counting by Twos by Michael Dahl.
You Will Need
Exploring and Playing
Toy animals; an ‘ark’; a soft ball; 10 socks; 2 lunch boxes; up to 10 real or play food items; numbered boxes.
Active Learning
Number cards 1 to 20 (see resources), 20 pegs and washing line; five replica 2p coins, washing line, 10 pegs; five 2p coins and a tin; 10 socks (preferably identical).
Creating and Thinking Critically
Even 2 to 10 cards; collections of up to 10 objects, e.g. pairs of shoes, pairs of cubes, pairs of eyes on soft toys, pairs of socks, etc.; cookie recipe (see resources); ingredients and cooking equipment; 20 chocolate buttons; plates; cubes; 1–10 number track (see resources); red and blue pencils.
Exploring 2-D shapes (suggested as 5 days)
Exploring and Playing
Active Learning
Creating and Thinking Critically
Maths Out Loud
Counting
Use the 1-100 grid to support counting to 50, with children all using fingers to match the 1s digit in the count, e.g., holding up 1 finger for 21, 2 fingers for 22, 3 fingers for 23, 4 fingers for 24 and so on. Say the multiples of 5 louder: 5, 10, 15, 20 etc.
Chants/Rhymes/Songs
The shapes song from www.YouTube.com.
Story
When a Line Bends...: A Shape Begins by Rhonda Gowler Greene. Rhymed text describes how shapes are made from simple lines.
Washing Line by Jez Alborough. Use vocabulary relating to shape and size by looking at clothes on the washing line.
You Will Need
Exploring and Playing
Boxes/ packaging; shallow trays of paint; paper; gummed shapes; sandpit; flat shapes (squares, rectangles, triangles and circles); playdough; different shape cookie cutters; boards; plates.
Active Learning
2-D shapes to include squares, rectangles, circles and triangles; 4 skipping ropes; playground chalk; loop of rope/ elastic ~3m long; 2-D shapes: square, rectangle, triangle, circle; clipboards; pencils; camera; Shape cards (see resources).
Creating and Thinking Critically
Cardboard box; several different triangles, rectangles, squares and circles; puppet; large sheet of paper; gummed shapes; flat shapes (square, rectangle, circle or triangle); a feely bag; mini-whiteboards and pens; pipe cleaners.