Exploring and Playing
Short Blocks
Maths Reception Spring Understanding Number
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 and estimating (suggested as 5 days)
Active Learning
Creating and Thinking Critically
Maths Out Loud
Counting
Count around the circle from 1 to the number in the class. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5! The 5th child waves one hand, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10th child waves 2 hands, 11… 15, 15th child waves one hand, and so on. Repeat, starting at a different place in the circle.
On other occasions, count to 100 in unison with children using their fingers to match the units. Emphasise numbers ending in 0 and 5.
Chants/Rhymes/Songs
Ten Green Bottles – counting back from 10 to 0.
Story
Ten Little Dinosaurs or Ten Little Robots or Ten Little Pirates by Mike Brownlow.
Counting to ten then back again. How many dinosaurs will there be now? Point at numerals for children to recognise and say out loud. Count quickly on and back using the pages, then slowly, then in a high voice, then in a low voice
You Will Need
Exploring and Playing
Lego™ bricks or cubes; Post-its™; pens; wiggly snakes drawn on A3 paper; paint; brushes; water; big chalk or large paintbrushes with water; plastic cups; tweezers; variety of small counting objects e.g. shells, small stones, gems, small beads, etc.
Active Learning
Number cards 1-20; 20-bead bar; 4 different-sized boxes with lids; play figures or Lego™ figures; 3 plates; 35 fruit snacks of two different types; washing line.
Creating and Thinking Critically
5 plates; counting objects e.g. play- people, Lego™ bricks etc.; 5 cloths to cover the plates; number cards 5, 10 and 20 per pair; drum; beater; other percussion instruments; number cards 1-10; cubes; washing line; cardboard box; small soft toys.
Order and compare numbers (suggested as 5 days)
Exploring and Playing
Active Learning
Creating and Thinking Critically
Maths Out Loud
Counting
Give each child in the class a card with a number between 1 and 20.
Together, count along the washing line from 1 to 20.
Then children close their eyes whilst you turn round 3 cards so their numbers are not visible. Children open eyes and hold up their card if they think it’s one of the missing numbers. They explain where it is on the line.
Repeat several times across the unit, swapping children’s numbers.
Chants/Rhymes/Songs
Ten in the bed (see resources for lyrics).
Story
Hippos Go Berserk! by Sandra Boynton.
One hippo calls another hippo. so now there are two. Then another hippo is called to make three. So the story proceeds… Children love it when they go berserk!
You could print pictures of hippos and ask children to come up to form a human number line as each new hippo is added, reinforcing this unit’s theme of ordering and comparing numbers.
You Will Need
Exploring and Playing
Play-dough; small objects to stick into the play-dough e.g. beads, counters, buttons etc; large number track 1-12 (see resources); dominoes; sand; small stone, shells; camera; low washing line; pegs; stickers; pens; socks.
Active Learning
Cardboard box; Number cards 0-9 (see resources); sandpaper numerals; 1-20 number track (see resources); soft toy for each child; Number cards 1-20 (see resources); counters; Blank cards (see resources); counters; Rosettes (see resources); pens; scissors.
Creating and Thinking Critically
Number cards 1-20 (see resources); interlocking cubes; counters; Name tag templates (see resources); Number track 1-20 (see resources); counters.