In reception I would expect to see games and activities to help develop mathematical understanding and language
Number recognition and counting
? Use a pegged number line for counting, matching, missing number and jumbled up number games.
? Make a moveable number line using yoghurt pots. Label the pots with numbers. Children choose correct number of objects to put inside each pot and place in order.
? Make a vertical number line, using the children's handprints.
? Make a tactile number line using materials such as sandpaper, fur, cord, velvet etc. for a multi-sensory approach.
? Label attractive boxes with different numbers. Children place correct number of natural objects in each box e.g. shells, fir cones, conkers, feathers
? Place a few wooden/plastic numbers in a feely bag. Can children pull out a given number by feel only?
? Place wooden/plastic numbers in separate envelopes. Slowly pull them out one by one to reveal a small part of the number. How soon before the children can guess what the number is?
? Hang number cards on a mug tree. Can children hang the correct number of objects on each mug peg? Use scrunchies, rubber bands, bracelets, curtain rings
? Hang numbered pockets on the wall. Children place correct number of items in each pocket.
? Thread correct number of cotton reels/beads on to numbered laces.
? Hold a small number of marbles in your hand and slowly drop one by one into a covered container. Children listen carefully and tell you how many you dropped in.
? Show a number of objects on the floor. Cover them up. Can the children remember how many?
? Go for a number walk with a number card. See how many times the children can see that number e.g. on a bus, shop, menu, house, car
? Go for a number walk and take photos of numbers in the environment. Make a display of the photos.
? Collect examples of numbers on packaging, magazines, labels etc. from the environment and set up a display.
? Stick a number on each side of a box/tin. Children clip the correct number of pegs to each side of the container.
? Hide pieces from a number jigsaw around the room. Children have to go and find the pieces, bring them back to a central point and help put the jigsaw together.
? Label bikes and create numbered 'parking bays'. See if the children can park their bikes in the correct bays.
Music
? Play musical instruments behind a screen a certain number of times. Can children tell you how many bangs on the drum, shakes of the maracas etc?
? Play an instrument a certain number of times. Can the children play their instrument the same number of times?
? Sing and act out number rhymes and songs.
Sand, water and malleable materials
? Find foam numbers in water or sand
? Make numbers out of playdough
? Draw numbers with fingers in shaving foam/paint/gloop
? Catch given numbers of floating objects in nets.
? Fill and empty a variety of containers (tall, short, thin, wide, large, small etc.) with water, sand or materials such as lentils and rice.
Creative Area
? Make models with different sized, shaped, coloured and textured boxes and materials.
? Print with different shaped objects.
? Collage large numbers and shapes.
Cooking and snack time
? Make number shaped biscuits
? Stick certain number of currants/chocolate drops etc. on cakes/biscuits
? Make a recipe book using pictures and numbers of cupfuls/spoonfuls needed for each recipe.
? Make menus with prices, for the role-play cafe.
? Cut up fruit into segments and portions. Talk about halves, quarters and shapes.
? Encourage children to pour drinks for themselves.
? Share out biscuits/fruit together with the children.
? Count out fruit, biscuits, drinks
Physical
? Knock over numbered skittles
? Throw large dice and clap, jump, hop catch ball etc. correct number of times
? Throw correct number of beanbags into numbered containers
? Jump along numbered carpet tiles in order from 1-5/10
? Use large chalked shapes on the ground. Throw a shape dice, children run to correct shape. A harder version would be to add colours so children have to run to the red square, the green circle etc.
? Throw correct number of quoits over numbered cones.
Measuring and time
? Draw round hands and/or feet and cut out. Use for measuring activities and games.
? Give children a length of string, fabric or a ruler. How many things can they find that are longer/shorter?
? Place some pegs in a line on a pegboard. Can children add or take away pegs to make the line longer/shorter?
? Give children different sized containers. See how many conkers, cones, shells etc. they can fit inside them.
? Use role-play to encourage the children to find things to fit e.g. the right sized hat, belt, bag, container etc.
? Make a time line with photos of what the children do in the day e.g. register, snack, outdoor play ... encourage them to refer to it during the session.
? Use a sand timer at tidying up times in order to help children learn about the concept of time.
Shapes
? Collect flat and 3D shaped items from the environment and make a display e.g. tins, food packets, money
? Stick a large favourite picture on to a piece of card. Cut into two or more shapes according to the ability of the child and see if they can put the picture together again.
? Carefully cut/break for example a toothpaste box, a flowerpot (watch edges) into pieces. Can the child put the item back together again?
? Play with flat shapes on the floor and find which are the same and which fit together.
? Cut sponges into different shapes and use to print shape pictures.
? Place shapes into a bag. Ask children to pull out a circle, a square, a curvy shape, a straight shape etc. by feel only.
? Go on a shape walk. Take a shape with you and look for that shape in the environment.
? Use shapes freely to make own pictures and patterns.
? Make shape biscuits.
? Make shapes with playdough.
? Mark out large shapes on the floor. Children run round to music and go and stand inside a given shape when the music stops.
? Children march/dance round to music. When the music stops, they make a shape with their body.