Number Cards
As an Educator, I always carry around a set of NUMBER CARDS with me in my pocket. They are one of my most valuable resources because they can be used any time, any place, any where in a number of ways.
When we work with a group of children who are playing, it is our job to enhance the learning in a meaningful way and make valuable connections. Say, for example, a child is playing with some cars. They might be rolling them down the ramp, making car sounds or verbalising the experience by saying “3,2,1 GO!” before releasing the car. If I was keen to weave numeracy into the play, I might use the number cards like this:
Roll a (one-1) car down the ramp and say “One(1) car!” and point to the number card with one(1) on it
Take the numbers 3,2,1 and put them down in order and then shout “Go!”
Place the numbers 1 & 2 at the top of the ramp and make laneways for the cars to roll down - which car reaches the bottom first and why?
Put the number cards on the table facing up. Ask the child if they can put the same number of cars on top of each card (e.g. two(2) cars on the #two(2))
Sort the cars by the colour on the cards (i.e. can you find a car that is purple? Which card does it belong to? How many dots are on the card? What is the number on the card?)
Let each child choose a number and that becomes their place in the queue to roll the cars down the ramp
Let a child choose a number and that is how many cars they can roll down the ramp, etc, etc,
The list of things you can do with NUMBER CARDS is endless. Take them with you when you visit the park, go on a bush walk, or go out for a meal. You can play games, reinforce counting skills, number recognition and use them to demonstrate when, how and where numbers exist in their day-to-day life (on clocks, signs, number plates, etc). Weaving numbers into a child’s natural play experiences means that they are absorbing the information and developing numeracy skills without even noticing!
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Written by Helen Lewis, Early Childhood Educator and co-founder of Rainbow Hopping Bug and Future Fit Families.