A Parent's Guide to Early Numeracy
Introduction
In Kelvinside Academy Nursery children will be engaging with the different aspects and maths and numeracy for enjoyment, communication, knowledge and understanding of the world around them and to gather information.
Children will extend and develop their skills in the different interconnected aspects of maths and numeracy which include number and number processes, measurement, money, time, shape pattern and symmetry, sorting and sharing and information handling.
Each of these aspects will be explored, and deepened through real life and play experiences which build on children’s prior learning at home.
Number and Number Processes
Understanding and using number is a complex process which involves exploring and understanding number order, recognising and identifying number names and the corresponding amounts they stand for and appropriate counting skills.
In order to count, children need to be able to match a counting word to each item to be counted. This involves reciting the numbers in order; touching and counting each item only once, arranging items to make counting easier eg into rows or lines; knowing where they started counting and when to finish; not missing any items out or counting any items twice and coordinating the touch and count so they don’t go too fast or too slow!
They also need to understand that counting words have an order, which initially has to be memorised. Gradually as children practise, they realise that the order is always the same and it relates to each individual item to be counted. Children also need to learn that the final number in the count answers the question – how many?
In the nursery children will develop skills in using and understanding numbers and number processes through:
Using a daily number line in which ‘Number Fairy’ moves, turns around and swaps the order of numerals 0-10 (this is increased over the year). Children have to identify what she has done and replace the numerals to the correct places.
Using a daily calendar to record the date, developing children’s recognition of number order and numerals.
Using numerals to identify how much of each snack children can have which they then count out.
Playing simple board games involving counting spots on the dice, recognising numerals and practicing number sequence and order.
Using a variety of objects and resources such as Number Puppies, compare bears, and natural found objects to encourage counting, sorting, ordering and number recognition. Comparing sets of objects and exploring which has more, less the same.
Using large number tracks and lines to move along, recording amounts both pictorially and with numerals in play activities.
Using and reading signs inside and outside the nursery.
Using the computers and programmable toys.
Singing action songs and circle games such as 10 green bottles, 5 currant buns to explore ad
To help your child develop skills and understanding with number you can engage in activities such as:
Counting out loud with your child – forwards and backwards – this will build confidence with number order.
Playing number hunt games or I spy looking for different numerals.
Counting the number of stairs as you go up and down or the number of a certain colour of cars or the number of wheels on a lorry.
Playing board games which encourage number recognition and counting skills.
Using words such as first, second etc to help with the order of things – who will be first to finish breakfast?
Counting out objects at home as you go about your daily routine –cups, socks, pegs, toys when tidying. As your child becomes confident start taking away and adding to sets. Encourage your child to touch each object just once as they count, this will help them to learn that objects are counted only once.
Talking about signs when you are out – that they are different shapes, colours or have different numbers on them.
Getting your child to set the table – collecting the correct number of knives, forks and spoons for all the people.
Although children do not learn in a linear fashion, the general progression through number would be if children can:
Recite numbers in order 1-5, 1-10, 1-20 and beyond
Count out sets of objects 1-5, 1-10, 1-20 and beyond
Understand the concept of 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Recognise, identify and name numerals 1-5,1-10, 1-20 and beyond
Add 2 amounts together understanding ‘more’
Write numerals to 5,10,20, beyond
Understand and use symbols of addition and subtraction
Measurement
Measurement involves lots of numeracy skills and identifying similarities and differences.
In the nursery children will use skills in using and understanding the measurement process through:
· Baking activities – weighing and measuring ingredients with cups, spoons and scales.
· Water activities – developing an understanding of weight and volume, using language such as full, empty, half full, nearly empty.
· Comparing the height of children – who is the tallest and smallest.
· Exploring and comparing objects – putting them in order from tallest to shortest or heaviest to lightest.
· Finding objects that are smaller than, shorter than or the same size as another.
· Using lots of everyday items to measure length, such as cubes, pencils, shoes, hands etc
To help your child develop skills and understanding with measurement you can engage in activities such as:
Involving your child when you are baking and cooking with measuring spoonfuls or cupfuls. Encourage them to feel the weight of different ingredients by holding them, comparing which is heaviest and lightest.
At bathtime comparing sizes and amounts that different containers hold – which holds the least/most, how many of one tub does it take to fill another.
Encouraging your child to help with tidying up and arrange books and toys in order of size, width, height, weight etc.
When out shopping give your child instructions related to size and weight – Can you find the biggest fruit/ the heaviest bag of flour / the longest pasta?
When out and about compare the sizes of items – which tree is the tallest, the fattest, the shortest? Can you find a pinecone bigger than this one?
General progression through measurement would involve children demonstrating they can:
Identify the biggest, smallest in a set
Understand and identify the longest, shortest, heaviest, lightest
Use balance scales to identify the lightest/ heaviest
Order objects according to height, weight, length
Measure an object using non standard measurements and count accurately the units of measure used
Money
Children’s understanding of the use of money and recognition of coins is helped with real life experiences of purchasing items and handling coins.
In the nursery children will use skills in using and understanding money through:
Talking about and observing how money is used and the different ways in which items can be purchased.
Using our role play corner – providing real life situations in which money is used.
Using real money to buy items on nursery trips. Looking at, sorting and matching coins. Playing matching and sorting games like money lotto.
To help your child develop skills and understanding in using money you can engage in activities such as:
Looking at and sorting coins according to colour, size, shape and amounts.
Talking about and describing the pictures on each – try some coin rubbings.
When out shopping, talking about the different ways things can be paid for – give your child coins to pay for small items.
Role playing buying items. Explore adding 2 items together and receiving change (it doesn’t need to be correct)
Talking with your child about what things cost comparing the costs of different items, which cost more?
Talking with your child about what they want to buy with birthday money and what things can be bought with the amount they have.
Progression through Money would involve children demonstrating they can:
Use money in the context of play to buy items
Sort out and match coins
Add together 1p coins
Identify and name the coins – 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1.00, £2.00
Add together 2 coins amounting to 5p, 10p, 20p
Subtract coins from an amount – 5p, 10p, 20p
Time
In the nursery children will develop skills and understanding of aspects of time through:
Engaging in a daily calendar - singing the days of the week song, changing the days and dates, months and seasons throughout the year.
Using the language of time – before, after, next, snacktime, lunchtime, hometime.
·Sequencing the day and events. Exploring different methods of telling the time –analogue clocks, digital clocks, watches phones.
Using timers to gain an understanding of the passing of time for computer use, the smartboard and for cleaning their teeth.
To help your child develop an understanding of time you can engage in activities such as:
Looking through family photographs and video’s, talking about events in terms of the sequence of time.
Putting photographs of themselves in order from youngest to oldest.
Using words to describe routines and tasks such as yesterday, tomorrow, next week, last year, before, after, bedtime, lunchtime.
Looking at clocks and watches with your child at different times of the day, talking about the position of the big and small hands.
Using calendars and diaries in everyday life – role play situations such as pretending to book in a hair appointment for a certain day and time.
Count out the number of sleeps until an important event.
Talk about the day, month and season noticing how the seasons are different
Progression through the aspect of time would involve children being able to:
Talk about times of the day – morning, afternoon, night, lunchtime.
Use before, after, next appropriately
Recite the days of the week in order
Say what the 4 seasons are
Identify the long and short hands on an analogue clock
Tell the o’clock time on an analogue and digital clock
Tell the half past time on an analogue and digital clo
Shape and Symmetry
In the nursery we will develop children’s understanding and skills in exploring, identifying, sorting, describing and naming shapes and their use of symmetry through:
Discussion of shapes and their properties when building with 3D bricks, junk modelling, threading with 3d shapes.
Being creative with 2d shapes, making pictures with hammering in shapes, magnetic shapes and using the large climbing shapes.
Feely bag activities to describe attributes.
Matching shapes in the environment – inside and out.
Recognising the link between 2d and 3d shapes by replacing bricks onto outlines at tidy up time.
Using shape lotto’s, books and the computers.
Art activities such as printing, painting, collage and dough cutters.
Creating symmetrical pictures using computer programs, shape tiles, fold painting and mi
To help your child develop skills and an understanding of both 3d and 2d shapes you can engage in activities such as:
Talking about and describing shapes when you’re out and about or playing with bricks, lego and toys using words such as straight, curved, pointed, corner.
Sorting packaging or food items into the cupboard.
Looking out for shapes and symmetrical patterns in the natural environment ie ladybirds, flowers, butterflies.
Progression through Shape and symmetry would involve children demonstrating they are able to:
Sort and match both 2d and 3d shapes
Use shapes to create pictures and models
Copy 3d structures and 2d shape pictures
Recognise if a picture or object is the same on both sides
Know the properties of 2d and 3d shapes
Identify and name 2d and 3d shapes
Sorting,Sharing&InformationHandling
In the nursery children will develop skills in using and understanding sorting and sharing and handling information through:
Sorting and matching a variety of objects into different sets according to colour, size, shape or purpose, deciding which objects belong and why.
Tidying up and replacing objects and toys into the correct places.
Making snack – halving and quartering fruit.
‘Reading’ and contributing to charts and signs for information such as how much snack can be taken, which adult is at their lunch table or in the room, who has had snack and charts to show children's’ votes.
To help your child develop skills and understanding with sorting, sharing and information handling you can engage in activities such as:
Sharing and splitting a meal such as pizza, cake.
Sorting out toys into categories – can your child give reasons for their sortings?
Encouraging your child to help with washing – sorting light and dark clothes, pairing socks, sorting which clothes belong to different people.
Involve your child in recycling and sor
Talk about the signs around you and w
Progression through this area would involve children demonstrating they are able to:
Sort objects into discrete sets
Sort objects according to 2 criteria
Use charts and diagrams to sort objects
Record their info using pictures, diagrams, charts
Share out objects into 2,3,4 groups
Split a whole object in halves and quarters
Identify a half and a quarter of an object
Identify half of an even number up to 10, 20
In supporting your child’s development across all aspects of maths and numeracy the adults in Nursery will provide:
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