Building Maths Skills
- Learning Resources Posted On Oct 21, 2014 | Learn
Hi all
Young children are very inquisitive and natural problem solvers. They learn to walk and talk by having a desire to attain their goal, by mimicking others, by trying things out, by making lots of mistakes and adjusting strategies accordingly, and by gradually gaining in confidence.
Activities and play based around building allow children not only to be imaginative but also encourage their mathematical thinking and reasoning. Early maths skills are not only critical to ensuring that children gain the tools he or she needs to perform well academically, they are also the ‘building blocks’ for the development of rational and logical thought processes. As well as these mathematical skills other areas of a child’s development are encouraged such as fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, social and language skills. Therefore building and construction are essential to a young child’s play and learning.
The possibilities for building and construction activities and play are endless and children of all ages love them. These are a few suggested activities for young children:
- Outdoor learning - go in search of lots of natural objects such as logs, stones
- Bring in an element of Literacy and link to the 'Three Little Pigs’. Read the story and allow children to build mini straw, stick and brick houses! Whose will be the strongest and which one will fall down!
- Fill your construction area with everyday resources such as cardboard boxes, tubes and fabric, along with different methods of joining such as sellotape, glue and string. Allow them to explore and watch and see what they create!
- To develop their understanding of shape, such as recognition and properties, build with 2D and 3D shapes.
Allowing children to build and construct freely will really get their imaginations flowing and by posing questions to them such as 'how can you make your structure taller’ you are able to extend that mathematical thinking.
See below for a product selection of resources to support these
Development Matters Early Years Foundation Stage:
Maths - Space, Shape and Measure
(30-50 months):
- Shows interest in shape by sustained construction activity or by talking about shapes or arrangements.
- Expressive Arts and Design - Exploring and Using Media and Materials (30-50 months):
- Uses various construction materials.
- Beginning to construct, stacking blocks vertically and horizontally, making enclosures and creating spaces.
- Joins construction pieces together to build and balance.
(40-60 months):
- Constructs with a purpose in mind, using a variety of
- Uses simple tools and techniques competently and appropriately.
This child-friendly set for ages 5+ features soft pieces including simple connectors, and unique curves for making circles and cylinders. Great for making 2D and 3D shapes.
Dive into Shapes! A “Sea” and Build Geometry Set
This sea-themed set includes 80 sticks and curves, 40 connectors and 15 double-sided activity cards suitable for children aged 6+.
For younger learners:
Help little engineers think critically as the build sturdy and sweet structures! Includes chunks, durable sweet-themed pieces in a variety of fun, familiar designs. Perfect for ages 4+.
If you have any questions about 'building’ maths skills, please get in touch!
Thanks,
Jo
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Get into Gears!
Hi all
Gears! Gears! Gears!® is a very popular brand name in our household! Squirt loves playing with the different gears to make lots of different designs, and it’s something she enjoys with her Dad has he loves playing with construction toys! She was bought the Movin’ Monkeysâ„¢ Building Set for her birthday last year. She was a bit young for it at the time, but loved playing with the monkeys and all the different trees - they ended up in the bath on more than one occasion! Now she’s older she lovely building with all the gears and connectors and swinging the monkeys from the springy green vines.
A brand new product to the Gears! Gears! Gears!® range is the new Build & Bloom Flower Garden. This has only been available for a couple of days, but knowing how much squirt loves the range, I thought I’d ask her opinion of the new set!
Here are some of the things Squirt said about Gears! Gears! Gears! Build & Bloom:
“I like the bees and butterflies and flowers.”
“Daddy has to help me put the bricks (base) together.”
“The pink ones are my favourite.”
“I like it when they spin.”
The set of 115 includes flowers, butterflies, bees and ladybirds, along with colourful gears and wiggly flower stems! Not only is the set a lot of fun, it also helps to develop critical thinking skills and encourages creativity.
To find out more about the Gears! Gears! Gears!® range, view the products on our website. I particularly like the Gizmos® Building Set with so many pieces and parts it will offer colourfully and dazzling play for hours on end!
These sets will make great Christmas presents that will keep children entertained for hours! Find them in our Christmas Shop here. In case you didn’t already know, all items in the Christmas Shop are buy two get one free!
Until next time…
Laura
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