3.3y–5y12 minFree playDevelopmental playFamily time
What-If Brick Sharing
A playful building-and-sharing challenge where your child solves a simple sharing problem, then extends it with ‘What if…?’ changes (more people, different totals) and checks by counting.
What you'll need
Essentials
- 10–20 blocks/bricks (or any stackable objects like cups/boxes)
- 2–4 small toys (people/animals) to be the ‘sharers’
Nice to have
- paper and a pencil (to note totals or draw groups)
- a small bowl (to hold spare bricks)
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· stretch· Steps 1, 2, 4
- MilestoneCompares object propertiesMind· 2.8y–5y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneExplains causesMind· 3.8y–4.6y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneReports the counted totalMind· 4.3y–5y· stretch
- Milestonecounts up to 5Mind· 2.5y–3.3y· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneRecites the counting sequenceMind· 4y–5y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneBegins to identify own mathematical problems based on own interests and fascinations.Mind· 3.3y–5y· core
- MilestoneVerbal opposite identificationMind· 4.5y–5y· core· Steps 2, 4
What it practices
- 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
- Estimates how many objects they can see and checks by counting them.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Encourage children to extend problems, e.g. “Suppose there were three people to share the bricks between instead of two”.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)