Maths
There are lots of ways you can practice maths at home.
Remember the CPA approach:
Concrete (using practical resources children can manipulate)
Pictorial (using pictures)
Abstract (using numbers and symbols)
In Reception we focus on concrete: lots of playing with objects. We have started to learn to write numbers - there is a number formation sheet below for you to download, and there are also apps to help with this. We don't tend to do worksheets/paper-based activities: lots of playful maths is the key!
In Year 1 we will always begin with concrete objects. The children have learnt symbols and numbers as well, but these come alongside concrete objects and pictorial representations. There are also some sheets below that you can help your child to work through.
Concrete (using practical resources children can manipulate)
Pictorial (using pictures)
Abstract (using numbers and symbols)
In Reception we focus on concrete: lots of playing with objects. We have started to learn to write numbers - there is a number formation sheet below for you to download, and there are also apps to help with this. We don't tend to do worksheets/paper-based activities: lots of playful maths is the key!
In Year 1 we will always begin with concrete objects. The children have learnt symbols and numbers as well, but these come alongside concrete objects and pictorial representations. There are also some sheets below that you can help your child to work through.
Below are some useful downloads, and under those are some general ideas for maths at home
Year 1 Autumn 2 Mat 1.pdf
Year 1 Autumn 2 Mat 3.pdf
Year 1 Autumn 2 Mat 2.pdf
Year 1 Autumn 2 Mat 5.pdf
Year 1 Autumn 2 Mat 4.pdf
Year 1 Autumn 2 Mat 6.pdf
Year 1 Spring 1 Activity Mat 2.pdf
Year 1 Spring 1 Activity Mat 1.pdf
Year 1 Spring 1 Activity Mat 3.pdf
Year 1 Spring 1 Activity Mat 5.pdf
Year 1 Spring 1 Activity Mat 4.pdf
Year 1 Spring 1 Activity Mat 6.pdf
Money
Set up a shop at home and play with real coins and notes. Year 1 children have been learning to recognise these. Begin by learning to pay with a single coin or note (so items worth 10p, 5p, £10 etc) and then move on to items where two coins are needed (eg 3p, 6p). Reception children could start to learn the different coins.
Set up a shop at home and play with real coins and notes. Year 1 children have been learning to recognise these. Begin by learning to pay with a single coin or note (so items worth 10p, 5p, £10 etc) and then move on to items where two coins are needed (eg 3p, 6p). Reception children could start to learn the different coins.
Number bonds
Practice finding number bonds: pairs of numbers that make another number. You could do this using a part/whole diagram (see download above) where the 'whole' is put into the large circle and then children move objects into the two parts to see which two parts make up the whole. You can also sing Farmer Pete to practice number bonds to 10. Year 1 children need to know number bonds up to 10 by April or May. Reception children just need to recognise that numbers can be made up of two different numbers.
Practice finding number bonds: pairs of numbers that make another number. You could do this using a part/whole diagram (see download above) where the 'whole' is put into the large circle and then children move objects into the two parts to see which two parts make up the whole. You can also sing Farmer Pete to practice number bonds to 10. Year 1 children need to know number bonds up to 10 by April or May. Reception children just need to recognise that numbers can be made up of two different numbers.
Shapes
The children have learnt to name 2D shapes: circle, square, rectangle, triangle (moving on to pentagon, hexagon, octagon in Year 1). You can practice spotting these around the house and taking photos of them. You can use the sheets below to practice recognising them.
The children can also learn (or recap, if they are Year 1) the names of some 3D shapes: cube, cuboid, cylinder, cone, pyramid (square or triangular-based), sphere. Again, they could find real objects which are made up of these shapes and take photos of them.
The children have learnt to name 2D shapes: circle, square, rectangle, triangle (moving on to pentagon, hexagon, octagon in Year 1). You can practice spotting these around the house and taking photos of them. You can use the sheets below to practice recognising them.
The children can also learn (or recap, if they are Year 1) the names of some 3D shapes: cube, cuboid, cylinder, cone, pyramid (square or triangular-based), sphere. Again, they could find real objects which are made up of these shapes and take photos of them.
Numbers
Children can practice forming numbers. They can do this on paper, with pens, in a tray of paint or sand, with chalk, using an app on and ipad... anyway you like! Reception children need to recognise numbers to 20 and beyond, while Year 1 children need to recognise numbers to 100.
Children can practice forming numbers. They can do this on paper, with pens, in a tray of paint or sand, with chalk, using an app on and ipad... anyway you like! Reception children need to recognise numbers to 20 and beyond, while Year 1 children need to recognise numbers to 100.
Addition and subtraction
This can be done in any way you like, using anything you like! Reception children can practice adding two small numbers: they need to understand the term 'add' and 'altogether'. Year 1 children can solve number sentences using practical resources or a number line (you can download a number line below). The same can be said for subtraction - lots of practical taking away, and for Year 1, counting back along a number line.
We like telling number stories in class: for example, I might say 'I was baking last night and I put 5 cookies on one tray and 6 on another. Can you work out how many I had altogether?' The children then use pictures of cookies, or objects, to solve the problem. An extra challenge is for the children to tell their own number stories!
This can be done in any way you like, using anything you like! Reception children can practice adding two small numbers: they need to understand the term 'add' and 'altogether'. Year 1 children can solve number sentences using practical resources or a number line (you can download a number line below). The same can be said for subtraction - lots of practical taking away, and for Year 1, counting back along a number line.
We like telling number stories in class: for example, I might say 'I was baking last night and I put 5 cookies on one tray and 6 on another. Can you work out how many I had altogether?' The children then use pictures of cookies, or objects, to solve the problem. An extra challenge is for the children to tell their own number stories!
Measurements
This is a great area of maths to do through play: children can fill containers and recognise full, empty and half full. They can measure lengths and heights using centimetres, metres or cubes or their own feet or hands! They can weigh things and compare 'heavier' and 'lighter'.
This is a great area of maths to do through play: children can fill containers and recognise full, empty and half full. They can measure lengths and heights using centimetres, metres or cubes or their own feet or hands! They can weigh things and compare 'heavier' and 'lighter'.