EYFS Maths - The Ladybird’s Spots

Early Learning Goal:

Using quantities and objects, they add and subtract two single-digit numbers and count on or back to find the answer.

Resources

Pebbles sourced from garden centres

Two lots of pre painted as ladybirds with different number of spots from 1 -10Markers

A4 printed pictures of ladybirds

Chalk

Additional dark coloured paint pens

Unpainted stones

Hide the stone ladybirds in the outdoor space.

Introduction

Show the class pictures of ladybirds and together count the spots on the ladybirds. Ask the children if they have seen ladybirds before, and encourage discussion around this, observing the language and communication children use. Inform the children that there are lots of different types of lady birds, and their colour and the number of spots they have help indicate what species of ladybird it is. The ladybird with the largest number of spots ever found had 25 spots!

Activity

Taking the children outside and show them a stone ladybird. Ask them to go on a ladybird hunt and search for and bring back the ladybird stones. Draw a number line and number 1 -10 on the playground with the chalk, and simple additions such as 1+4 = 2+2 = underneath. (If you are not using a playground, these can be drawn on large pieces of paper and a roll of paper. When the children bring back the stones, ask them initially to order the stones on the number line. Pair the children up and ask each pair to solve the question using the ladybirds. They need to find the correct number of spots on the ladybird, place that ladybird under the number and use the spots to count the answer. Allow the children to draw the answer with chalk, supporting where necessary. Allow each pair to solve one problem each, and encourage the other children to help the pair ‘count’ the answer.

Extension

Offer each pair a stone each, and a black or dark colour paint pen, and allow them to draw spots on one side of the stone, and help them to draw the number on the other side of the stone to keep.