In Maths this week, we have been continuing to build on the children's subitising skills. 

They have been looking closely at small quantities and observing whether the quantity has changed or if actually it is only the arrangement (way in which the items are positioned) that had changed.

We investigated the shapes made by Numberblock Four and the children used interlocking cubes to create similar arrangements. Through this play and discussion, the children started to develop their skills of ‘conceptual’ subitising. They noticed the sub-groups that can be perceived within a larger set, and recognise the whole at the same time. For example, they saw that Numberblock Four can be arranged with 2 blocks on top of another 2 blocks or as a line of 3 with 1 on top, and they connected both to 4. This helps further develop their understanding of part–whole relations and the composition of number from last week.

The children were also encouraged to represent quantities in different ways by using a number of fingers on one hand. Some children can show an amount ‘all at once’ while others need a lot more practice to be able to do this. You can help to build confidence by allowing the children to ‘grow their fingers’ – putting up one finger at a time – before showing them, and gradually introduce the idea of making an amount ‘all at once’ when they become more familiar with finger patterns. Keep practising those finger exercises!

Home Challenge

This week we would like you to play a matching game together at home.

You will need:

* a dice (real dice or you can use an interactive dice on your phone/tablet)

* a bowl of everyday loose parts you have at home such as dried pasta/pebbles/raisins etc

Take turns to roll the dice and say the number. This will help to build on subitising skills. When your child has told you what the number is, encourage them to count out that many from your bowl of loose parts and make an arrangement of that number. If they roll that number again, can they make the arrangement in another way? 

Play the game again but this time instead of making the amount with the loose parts, encourage them to 'grow' the number on their fingers, gradually building up to 'showing' immediately instead of needing to 'grow' the number.

As always, please upload photos and videos to Tapestry so we can celebrate the children's learning at home with the class