3.3y–5y12 minStory timeArtFamily time
Story Number Display Makers
Create a mini story display with numerals so your child sees numbers used for a real purpose (labels, counting prompts, and simple comparisons).
What you'll need
Essentials
- a favourite storybook (or a story you both know)
- paper or card (small scraps are fine)
- marker or crayon
- tape or reusable putty
- 5–15 small objects or toys (to stand in for characters/items)
Nice to have
- sticky notes
- a small tray or table space for the display
- scissors (adult-only)
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
- 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
- “Add numerals to all areas of learning and development, e.g. to a display of a favourite story, such as ‘The Three Billy Goats Gruff’.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)