Jessica (4 years, 6 months) knew that

there are twelve numbers on a clock She

was persistent with her learning and

challenged herself. On this occasion she

was playing with a piece of knowledge

and connected it to a real context, i.e., 

milk time in the nursery. She carried her 

sign around to show the other children

that it was time for a drink.

The Maths: Writing numbers

The Taxonomy: Numerals as labels

Scarlett (5 years, 0 months) drew a shop

till, which may have been influenced by

her class's 'Garden Centre' play area. She

wrote and cut out numbers for different 

amounts which she attached to her till. At

the top she had drawn an LCD screen with

more numerals, explaining, "That's what

you have to pay." Finally she cut out her 

till, so that she could use it as an object

in her play.

The Maths: Writing numbers

The Taxonomy: Numerals as labels

Matthew (3 years, 9 months) drew one of

his favourite storybook engines, 'James the

Red Engine', and '5' was the number of the

engine. Matthew was very interested in

numbers, not only on trains, but also in bus

numbers and their destination of buses.

The Maths: Writing numbers

The Taxonomy: Numerals as labels

Louisa made what appeared to be a clock. 

In this setting the children in each group 

had limited choices for play. When Louisa

explained her dial, she assigned an activity

to each number: "1 - bricks; 2 - puzzles; 

3 - role-play; 4 - reading; 5 - painting".
She paused with her finger on '6', then 

smiling explained, "Then you have a

sleep". Moving the hand on her dial she

paused at the letters 'fo' (off), adding

"This is where you turn it off".

The Maths: Writing numbers

The Taxonomy: Numerals as labels and

for counting

Jenna (5 years, 2 months) was playing  

pretend shops ,and wrote two 'phone 

numbers.

The Maths: Writing numbers

The Taxonomy: Numerals as labels

At snack time, Harry (4 years, 5 months)

and his friends had been discussing

caravans. Harry said that his grandma

was staying in a caravan a bit further away,

and that her caravan had a kitchen and a

sofa. He decided to represent his

grandma's caravan, adding that its "long

number is '12148' ".

The maths: Number

The Taxonomy: Numerals as labels; early

written numerals

 Sophie (4 years, 2 months) was playing with

a telephone.  She said "I know Jade's phone

number" and wrote it down. Sophie was very

interested in numbers and confident at writing

them. Alex listened to Sophie and started

copying what she was writing.

The maths: Number

The Taxonomy: Numerals as labels