3.3y–5y10 minArtDevelopmental playQuiet time
Texture Number Cards: Trace and Match
Make simple tactile numeral cards and use them for tracing, matching numerals to quantities, estimating-and-checking, and comparing two sets.
What you'll need
Essentials
- small pieces of card or thick paper (3–6)
- glue or tape
- a marker
- one or two textured materials (e.g., sand/salt/sugar/rice, foil, fabric, or string/yarn)
- 10 small objects for counting (e.g., buttons, blocks, pasta)
Nice to have
- a tray/plate (to catch any loose grains)
- a damp cloth/paper towel (for quick clean-up)
- stickers (as extra counters)
Movement level: low
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
- MilestoneRecognises written numeralsMind· 4y–5y· core· Steps 1, 2, 3
- Milestonecounts up to 5Mind· 2.5y–3.3y· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneReports the counted totalMind· 4.3y–5y· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneCompares object propertiesMind· 2.8y–5y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneNames written numeralsMind· 4y–5y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneVerbal opposite identificationMind· 4.5y–5y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneReceptive opposite understandingMind· 4y–5y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneWrites numerals with supportMind· 4.5y–5y· core
- MilestoneControls tools effectivelyBody· 3.3y–5y· stretch
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
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Use tactile numeral cards made from sandpaper, velvet or string.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)