3.3y–5y10 minQuiet timeFamily timeDevelopmental play
Zero Detectives: Nothing in the Bowl
A short adult-guided game that makes ‘zero’ visible and meaningful by comparing full and empty sets, counting down to none, and representing zero with words, fingers, and a numeral.
What you'll need
Essentials
- two bowls/containers (one will be empty)
- 5–10 small objects (e.g., blocks, coins, crackers, buttons)
- paper and a pen/marker (to write or draw a 0)
Nice to have
- a small toy ‘detective’ (teddy/figure) for role-play
- masking tape to make a simple ‘zero zone’ on the table
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
- MilestoneReports the counted totalMind· 4.3y–5y· core
- MilestoneCounts objects one-to-oneMind· 4y–4.5y· stretch· Step 2
- Milestonecounts up to 5Mind· 2.5y–3.3y· stretch· Step 2
- MilestoneRecognises written numeralsMind· 4y–5y· core
- MilestoneAnswers questions about a storyMind· 4y–6y· core· Step 4
- MilestoneWrites numerals with supportMind· 4.5y–5y· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneCopies a circleBody· 2.2y–4.2y· stretch· Step 3
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
- “Emphasise the empty set and introduce the concept of nothing or zero.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)