3.3y–5y12 minFree playFamily timeDevelopmental play
Story Problem Studio
Use toys and everyday objects so your child can invent short ‘How many?’ stories for you (or a toy) to solve, then check solutions by counting and comparing.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 5–15 small toys or counters (cars, animals, blocks, coins, pasta)
- paper and a pencil/crayon
Nice to have
- two small bowls/plates (to hold ‘groups’ in the story)
- a small toy (teddy) to be the ‘solver’
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
- MilestoneBegins to identify own mathematical problems based on own interests and fascinations.Mind· 3.3y–5y· core
- MilestoneCounts objects one-to-oneMind· 4y–4.5y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneReports the counted totalMind· 4.3y–5y· stretch
- MilestoneCreates pretend small world stories with toysMind· 3y–4y· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneIndependent connected storytellingMind· 4y–5y· stretch
- MilestoneCreate simple representations of events, people and objects.Mind· 3.3y–5y· stretch· Step 4
- MilestoneGives meaning to own drawings or marksMind· 2.8y–3.8y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneWrites numerals with supportMind· 4.5y–5y· stretch· Step 4
- Milestonecounts up to 5Mind· 2.5y–3.3y· core· Step 2
What it practices
- Finds the total number of items in two groups by counting all of them.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Counts an irregular arrangement of up to ten objects.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Selects the correct numeral to represent 1 to 5, then 1 to 10 objects.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Uses the language of ‘more’ and ‘fewer’ to compare two sets of objects.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Encourage children to make up their own story problems for other children to solve.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)