Incorporating Mathematics into your learning environment
Mathematics is a specific area of development in the Early Years Foundation Stage, yet many settings find it difficult to incorporate it into everyday learning environments. Here are some 7 easy ways to make sure you are encouraging mathematical development through play.
Role Play
Role play allows the children to re-enact their experiences and use everyday resources and items. Mathematics can be added into this area by offering photos of numbers found in the environment such as on buses or road signs. Children can familiarise themselves with numbers they see in everyday life and begin to recognise these. Plastic money can also be added to the role play, giving children early experience with handling and recognising the value of coins.
Sand and Water Play
Sand and water play gives children the opportunity to experience and explore measuring. Offering measuring jugs, funnels and different sized containers, children are able to transport the sand or water between the different containers developing early mathematical language such as ’empty’ and ‘full.’
Nursery Rhymes
Singing nursery rhymes that incorporate mathematical concepts are a simple way to introduce maths into the learning environment. Song time should be part of everyday practice. There are so many nursery rhymes that can be shared with children, for example, five little ducks, five little-speckled frogs, One Two Three Four Five one a caught a fish alive.
Book Area
A book area can be enhanced to include mathematics by adding a range of reading materials such as takeaway menus or recipe cards. This gives children the opportunity to develop their awareness of numbers and weight alongside their literacy development. Young children often confuse letters and numbers so this can support them in recognising and separating these ideas.
Creative Area
Mathematics can be displayed in a creative area in many ways. Offering cutting materials such as scissors can allow the children to alter and reshape paper, giving them the experience of creating shapes and measuring. Plastic rulers can be available in the mark making area, supporting children to draw and experiment with lines. Also adding lots of open ended resources in the creative area allows children to build 3D structures, supporting their measuring skills.
Investigation
Having an investigation area can help children to develop their mathematical knowledge. Offering resources such as magnifying glasses, tape measures and small padlocks with keys can help children use their problem-solving skills to explore and learn.
Outside environment
Maths can be observed in the outside environment in a range of ways. Using pebbles to write numbers on enables the children to experience numbers in a fun way. Mud kitchens can also be a great way for children to experience weighing and measuring to further their mathematical skills.
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