3.3y–5y12 minArtFamily timeDevelopmental play
Lunch Choices: Pictogram to Brick Chart
A short adult-guided activity where children help make a simple pictogram (votes for lunch/snack choices), then convert it into a 3D brick chart to discuss ‘most’, ‘more’, and ‘fewer’.
What you'll need
Essentials
- paper (1–2 sheets)
- pen/marker or crayon
- 10–20 small building blocks/bricks (or stacking cups)
- small counters for ‘votes’ (e.g., buttons, coins, beans, raisins)
Nice to have
- sticky notes or small paper squares as ‘vote cards’
- 2–4 toys/teddies as extra ‘voters’
Movement level: false
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneCounts objects one-to-oneMind· 4y–4.5y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneCompares object propertiesMind· 2.8y–5y· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneReports the counted totalMind· 4.3y–5y· core
- Milestonecounts up to 5Mind· 2.5y–3.3y· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneReceptive opposite understandingMind· 4y–5y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneDiscriminates longer and shorterMind· 2.8y–4.2y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneBuilds block structures (vertical, walls, enclosures)Body· 2.5y–4.2y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneFollows instructions with several steps or actionsMind· 3.3y–4y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneFollows ordered multi-step directionsMind· 4y–5.6y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneHandles varied tools with controlBody· 3.3y–5y· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneSelects appropriate resources and adapts work where necessary.Mind· 3.3y–5y· core
What it practices
- Selects the correct numeral to represent 1 to 5, then 1 to 10 objects.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Counts an irregular arrangement of up to ten objects.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Estimates how many objects they can see and checks by counting them.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Uses the language of ‘more’ and ‘fewer’ to compare two sets of objects.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Finds the total number of items in two groups by counting all of them.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Ensure that children are involved in making displays, e.g. making their own pictograms of lunch choices. Develop this as a 3D representation using bricks and discuss the most popular choices.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)