Teach-Early-Years-14.1

MATHS THROUGHOUT THE DAY One of the five recommendations in the report Improving Mathematics in the Early Years and Key Stage 1 , published by the EEF (Education Endowment Foundation) is to try to integrate maths into a variety of different regular activities throughout the day. This helps children become more familiar with mathematical language and concepts, develop their confidence to use it in their play, and make the most of the routines of the school day. The activities in this article encourage children to enjoy maths throughout the day in a variety of ways: by counting, reading and writing numbers, sharing number books and rhymes, and developing their sense of time. STORY NUMBERS At the end of the day, sit on the carpet and recall the events of the day, or retell a traditional story that the children are familiar with using “story numbers”. Give out cards with the numbers 1–10. Invite No. 1 to start the story by saying, “At school, today I” or “Once upon a time…” Can No. 2 carry on by saying what happened next or introduce the story characters? Continue the story by inviting the next number to speak and so on. No. 10 must finish with the words “And now it’s time to go home” or “And they all lived happily ever after.” STOPWATCH CHALLENGE Use an online stopwatch to time how long it takes the children to get ready to go home at the end of a session. Who can get their coat on, their bag ready with all their belongings, water bottle, books, letters, gloves, and hat in the quickest time? Talk about what else the children could use the timer for, such as tidying up, sitting on the carpet, lining up to go home or even standing on one leg! HOME TIME SONG Use the Register numbers described above to help children line up in order as they get ready to go home. This can also be useful for lining up to go out to play or for assembly. Try using this simple chant: No. 1 get in line / No. 2 it’s home time / No. 3 we’ve had some fun / No. 4 the day is done. / No. 5 get in line… If you want to surprise the children, try using the Register numbers in reverse, or start in the middle and count in twos! OUTDOOR GAMES Use thick playground chalks to create number games to play outside. Support children to draw a traditional hopscotch court and demonstrate how to play with or without a stone. This game develops balance and coordination at the same time as counting and number recognition. Try a version of “Chindro”, a popular Indian game, and invite children to take turns to throw a beanbag backwards over their heads to land in an assigned number. Remind them to take care when throwing objects! GIANT NUMBER LINES Use the chalk or paint to create giant number lines. Invite children to write the numbers in order on the line. They can stick to simple 1–10 or start at 11–20. Can they write the numbers in twos? Challenge children to find different numbers on the lines that you call out. Can they work out simple number sentences by jumping backwards or forwards on the line? Encourage them to make up their own sums for friends to work out. TIME TRAVEL Use different times of day to encourage children to be more aware of time. Take the opportunity at playtime, lunchtime, or home time to look at an analogue clock together and start to read the time. Try this time chant: At 12 o’clock, it’s time for lunch. / Both hands at the top. / At 12 o’clock, it’s time to eat. / Time will never stop! / At 3 o’clock, it’s time to go home. / Big hand at the top. / Little hand points at the 3. / Time will never stop! TIP: Set up a “Number book corner” or library with lots of number books for children to look at during the day and borrow to take home. Playtime Jude Harries is an author and teacher of music and drama, with experience of working with children aged nine months to 11 years. Home time Teachearlyyears.com 43