3.3y–5y12 minQuiet timeFree playFamily time
Numeral, Word, and Object Match Lab
A hands-on matching activity where the child links quantities to written numerals and number words using everyday objects, with built-in chances to estimate, count, compare, and combine sets.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 10-20 small objects (e.g., buttons, blocks, bottle tops, coins, socks)
- paper cut into small cards
- pen or marker
- two small bowls/plates or clear floor/table space
Nice to have
- sticky notes (for quick cards)
- tape (to stop cards sliding)
- a small cloth/tea towel (to cover objects for quick-look estimating)
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
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
- “Create opportunities for children to experiment with a number of objects, the written numeral and the written number word. Develop this through matching activities with a range of numbers, numerals and a selection of objects.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)