Moving on Mathematics

At Rachel Keeling we know how important it is for our children to develop mathematical understanding in a variety of meaningful ways. We have embedded experiences such as our 'Shoppers of the Week', regular cooking, mud village, tidy up time, our lunch time helpers, visual timetables, our recyclable workshop area, group games, woodwork bench and many more activities that promote meaningful maths.
Some children have developed counting skills and number recognition and are ready to work on simple calculations and begin to read and write mathematical equations. A group of children have been supported to make and use a Magic Maths Machine to work out simple addition. Children work together, throwing the dice, reading the numeral and counting out the counters. They then combine two numbers and come up with the total. Children then began to note their calculations using magnetic numbers and read them to each other. Some children realised they could use their fingers to calculate!
Other children invented a game with an adult. They used a dice, numerals and hoops to take turns reading, counting and aiming! Children sustained interest and collaborated in both experiences.