Number Recognition Activity

A quick number recognition activity suitable for Early Years.

You need a set of mathsticks 0-9 cards. Cut out and laminate the cards as normal, but now slice each card in half with a single straight cut.

Make this cut, which should be in a different place on each card, through the digit (and the mathstick figure).

Arrange the children in a circle with a collection of unifix or other counting materials to hand. Shuffle the half-cards and share them out so that each child gets half of a card. Tell the children they have a picture of part of a digit, and ask a few  of them if they can identify what their digit could be.

Finally, tell the children you want to see how quickly they can find the person who has the other  half of their card. The idea is that they should walk around the room looking at each other's cards until they find the other half-card which matches theirs. As soon they have matched the pieces they should collect some unifix, sit down with their partner and place the appropriate number of unifix counters on their assembled digit card.

Once everyone is ready talk about the digits they can see and the counters they have placed on the card. If there is time (and space) help the children to re-organise themselves so they are sitting in a row with the numbers in order.

Children who wish to pursue the activity further can work together using the cards as mini jigsaws.