numbers and patterns: laying foundations in mathematics and patterns: laying foundations in...

Numbers and patterns: laying foundations in mathematics

Numbers and patterns: laying foundations in mathematics

First published in 2009

Ref: 01011-2009DOM-EN

BELM

ON

T PR

ESS

12-

2009

Disclaimer

The Department for Children, Schools and Families wishes to make it clear that the Department and its agents accept no responsibility for the actual content of any materials suggested as information sources in this publication, whether these are in the form of printed publications or on a website.

In these materials, icons, logos, software products and websites are used for contextual and practical reasons. Their use should not be interpreted as an endorsement of particular companies or their products.

The websites referred to in these materials existed at the time of going to print.

Please check all website references carefully to see if they have changed and substitute other references where appropriate.

5The National Strategies | Primary Numbers and patterns: laying foundations in mathematics | Introduction

Crown copyright 2009 01011-2009DOM-EN

Contents

Introduction 7

The materials 7

The focus 8

The structure 8

Accessing the materials 9

Mark making 10

How Numbers and patterns: laying foundations in mathematics relates to the EYFS Development Matters statements and the Year 1 Primary Framework objectives

11

Appendix 1: Glossary of terms used within Numbers and patterns:laying foundations in mathematics

22

Observation, assessment and planning 1

Introduction 1

What to look for when observing young childrens mathematical development: an aide-mmoire

5

Steps in learning 1

Introduction 1

Numbers and patterns phases 2

Number words and numerals skills and potential difficulties 4

Counting sets skills and potential difficulties 10

Models and images 16

Enabling environments 1

Introduction 1

Enabling environments: construction 3

Enabling environments: daily routines 5

Enabling environments: large play 7

Enabling environments: malleable 9

Enabling environments: mark making 11

Enabling environments: role-play 13

Enabling environments: sand 15

Enabling environments: small world 17

Enabling environments: sound patterns 19

Enabling environments: table games 21

6 The National Strategies | Primary Numbers and patterns: laying foundations in mathematics | Introduction

01011-2009DOM-EN Crown copyright 2009

Enabling environments: visual patterns 23

Enabling environments: water play 25

Role of the adult 1

Introduction 1

Number words and numerals: Phase 1 5

Number words and numerals: Phase 2 12

Number words and numerals: Phase 3 19

Number words and numerals: Phase 4 26

Number words and numerals: Phase 5 33

Number words and numerals: Phase 6 39

Counting sets: Phase 1 45

Counting sets: Phase 2 51

Counting sets: Phase 3 58

Counting sets: Phase 4 65

Counting sets: Phase 5 74

Counting sets: Phase 6 82

Developing mathematics through a theme: Having a party 88

Supporting material 1

Key messages 1

Learning environment audit 4

Auditing the use of the environment to support and develop mathematical speech, language and communication

9

Extracts from Mark making matters 11

Extracts from Children thinking mathematically: PSRN essential knowledge forEarly Years practitioners

16

7The National Strategies | Primary Numbers and patterns: laying foundations in mathematics | Introduction

Crown copyright 2009 01011-2009DOM-EN

Numbers and patterns: laying foundations in mathematics

Introduction

The materialsWelcome to Numbers and patterns: laying foundations in mathematics. This set of resource materials is intended to help practitioners working with children in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), and teachers working with lower Key Stage 1 children, to plan their mathematics provision and help children to secure some of the key mathematical ideas that they will use throughout the rest of their lives. The materials have a strong focus on Number, particularly counting, and the childrens developing understanding of the patterns that underpin early work within this aspect of mathematics.

It is vital to lay secure foundations in early mathematics. We want young children to engage with numbers and to see how to use them in their everyday environment for labelling, quantifying and calculating: in other words, giving children the tools to help them to develop a better understanding of the world in which they live. Counting is a significant aspect of childrens early understanding of number and is the foundation on which quantifying and calculating are built. These Numbers and patterns: laying foundations in mathematics materials are intended to help practitioners and teachers introduce young children to a broad experience of counting. Using these materials will help to provide children with the skills they need to support further learning and enquiry, giving them the confidence to have a go and to develop their understanding and skills. It provides the important start in life that will help to overcome the fears and reluctance to engage in mathematics that adults will often admit to. It will help to turn an I cant attitude towards mathematics into the more positive I can and I do.

These materials comprise ideas and guidance on how to plan, prepare for and support children in their early stages of learning mathematics and on how to assess childrens learning to inform next steps in planning. While Numbers and patterns: laying foundations in mathematics is aimed at children in the EYFS and early Key Stage 1, it is intended to be used flexibly, with the materials being adapted to meet the learning needs of the children wherever they are on their mathematics learning journey. The materials can be tailored to meet the needs of an individual, group or class. The aim is to ensure that all children become competent counters and can operate comfortably within the expectations set by the practitioner and teacher drawing on the EYFS and Primary Frameworks.

We hope that you will find these materials useful when planning your mathematics provision for children. The overall aim is to stimulate and engage childrens interest and joy in numbers, in ways that inform and secure their learning. While the mathematics of number is vast, the early ideas are the all-important blocks that form the structure. We hope the resources will help you to ensure that children acquire the number foundations on which they can build their future learning.

8 The National Strategies | Primary Numbers and patterns: laying foundations in mathematics | Introduction

01011-2009DOM-EN Crown copyright 2009

The focusThe materials in Numbers and patterns: laying foundations in mathematics focus on key aspects of Numbers as Labels and for Counting and Calculating in the EYFS Development Matters guidance. They extend into the equivalent aspects of the Year 1 objectives from the Counting and understanding number and Calculating strands of the Primary Framework for mathematics. These materials have been structured around the following two themes to ensure that children experience high-quality teaching in two aspects of counting:

Number words and numerals the ability to say number names in order; Counting sets the ability to count objects, in order to find out how many there are in a set.Throughout these two themes importance is given to children recognising, using and memorising patterns and structured arrangements through familiarity with and regular practice in counting. Patterns in number names, the rhymes and rhythms in sounds and visual links all play a part in learning mathematics. As children being to learn how the patterns are structured and how their underlying formation can be applied to new contexts, the memorisation becomes easier and the recall more immediate. Numbers and patterns: laying foundations in mathematics emphasises the role that pattern identification can play in helping children to acquire a secure conceptual framework around number and counting, using all their senses in the process while working in the indoor and outdoor environments.

The structureNumbers and patterns: laying foundations in mathematics is structured around six developmental phases that are linked to the two themes: Number words and numerals and Counting sets. These developmental phases have been informed by the Development Matters statements from the EYFS framework and the Year 1 learning objectives from the Primary Framework. The two themes of Number words and numerals and Counting sets are organised in parallel, to help you see how they might be developed together. Children will move through these development phases and stages in learning, as they secure their understanding of number and counting; however this journey will not necessarily be the same for every child. This guidance sets out these developmental phases to help you in your planning and assessment of childrens learning; they do not set out a one and only one pathway that every child must follow.

There are six sections to this resource.

Introduction to Numbers and patterns: laying foundations in mathematics provides an overview of the structure of the materials, how they can be accessed and how they relate to the Development Matters statements and the Year 1 Primary Framework objectives.

Observation, assessment and planning includes guidance on how these all support childrens development and learning in mathematics, together with an