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The value of two
Ruth Trundley outlines her doctoral research and concludes that development of an understanding of cardinality is a crucial element of counting that can be overlooked.

Developing number through tidying up

Mathematical problem solving in the early years: developing opportunities, strategies and confidence
In this article for Early Years practitioners, Dr Sue Gifford outlines ways to develop children's problem-solving strategies and confidence in problem solving.


Young children's mathematical recording

One Is a Snail, Ten Is a Crab
This 'counting by feet' book offers opportunities to focus on counting and introduce multiplication with its entertaining illustrations.

The Doorbell Rang
Ma has made plenty of cookies for her children, but then the doorbell rings. And rings... And rings... This book is perfect for discussing sharing equally.

The Shopping Basket
With Steven having to fend off various animals on his way back from the shops, he arrives home with fewer items than his mum requested. This book is a great context in which to count, and in particular to talk about 'one less'.


Five Minutes' Peace
Mrs Large the elephant wants five minutes' peace away from her three children... but they keep interrupting her!

TSA NRICH Day October 31st 2018

Curriculum

The Bad-Tempered Ladybird
The bad-tempered ladybird tries to fight bigger and bigger animals throughout the day - but will it win a fight against the biggest animal of all?




Early number sense

Subitising
In this article for EY practitioners, Dr Sue Gifford outlines what we mean by subitising and how we can teach it.

The Great Pet Sale
This book tells the story of a pet shop where lots of animals are for sale at a variety of prices - but which will the boy choose?

Features

Place value: the ten-ness of ten

Rich mathematics

How Big is a Million?
Pipkin is a small penguin who asks big questions. He wants to know how big a million is! He finds ten fish, a hundred penguins in a huddle and a thousand snowflakes... but will he find a million of anything?


How can I support the development of early number sense and place value?
This article for primary teachers expands on the key ideas which underpin early number sense and place value, and suggests activities to support learners as they get to grips with these ideas.

Walter's Wonderful Web
Walter the spider wants to spin a perfect web, so he tries making webs of different shapes and sizes. Will he end up with a wonderful web?

Recent solutions

Dot card games

The importance of shape and space in the early years

Models in mind

Ten Apples Up On Top
In this captivating rhyming story, a dog, a lion and a tiger all try to balance ten apples on their heads while tightrope walking and roller skating!

Maths at home

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons
Pete the cat wears his favourite shirt with four groovy buttons. But what happens when one of the buttons pops off and rolls away? This story introduces children to subtraction number sentences.

Pattern and structure

Related teacher playing with shape


Using dice games in the classroom

The Secret Birthday Message
On the night before Tim's birthday, he finds a secret message under his pillow! Can you work out what the different shapes in the message mean to help Tim find his birthday present?

Color Zoo
When we turn the page to remove a layer, what animal will the picture show now? And what shape will be removed? Have a look at the colour zoo to find out!

Maths at home

Welcoming your new class

Grandpa's Quilt
Grandpa is so long and thin that his quilt doesn't cover his toes. This story tells of his grandchildren's attempts to change the shape of the quilt so he is toasty from head to foot.

Working with a grown-up?

Geometric thinking - teacher articles

Getting the balance right

Encouraging primary children to work systematically

Lucy in the City
Lucy the raccoon is in the city one night looking for food with her family. But when they leave her behind by mistake, she has to find her way home with the help of a friendly owl who gives her directions.

ACME report: developing able young mathematicians
Lynne McClure gives an overview of the ACME report 'Raising the bar: developing able young mathematicians', published in December 2012.

Henry's Map
Henry the pig likes knowing exactly where everything is. But when he looks out of the window, the farm is a mess! Follow Henry's story as he draws a map to show where everything in the farm should be.


Balancing Act
This book builds on children's experience of seesaws and balancing. Join the two mice who make a seesaw (or teeter totter) and see what happens as their friends hop on too.


Primary children's mathematical recording


Maths at home - summer challenges 2024

A good foundation for number learning for five year olds?


Seesaw shenanigans
A group of animals has made a seesaw in the woods. How can you make the seesaw balance?

Red or black spinner

Full list of books


Number books

Geometry books

Measures books

Tasks for an adult and child

Full book list



Being resilient - Lower Primary measures

Play to win

Being collaborative - Primary teachers

Number sense and place value current feature

More number patterns lower primary

Why's ten important?

Playing with numbers

Mastering mathematics: the challenge of generalising and proof

A random rambling rant


Playing strategically

Starting the term with rich tasks



Hidden gems

Being resilient - Lower Primary geometry

Exploring problem solving, reasoning and fluency in a geometrical context

Play to win



More lower primary number pattern tasks


Understanding information

Supporting students to work collaboratively
This page, and the accompanying webinar recording, suggests ways in which teachers can help students to work more collaboratively.


Developing logical thinking: the place of strategy games

Integrating rich tasks - activity 3

Creating a low threshold high ceiling classroom

The development of spatial and geometric thinking: the importance of instruction
This article looks at levels of geometric thinking and the types of activities required to develop this thinking.

Mechanics in the primary years

