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 Taxonomy: Numerals as labels

The Maths: Numbers

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 Taxonomy: Numerals as labels

The Maths: Numbers

Matthew's numbers

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 the destination of buses.

The Taxonomy: Numerals as labels

The Maths: Number

Louisa's dial

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 Taxonomy: Numerals as labels

The Maths: Number

Grandma's caravan

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 Taxonomy: Numerals as labels; early written numerals

The maths: Number

Jenna (5 years, 2 months) was playing pretend shops ,and wrote two 'phone numbers.

The Taxonomy: Numerals as labels

The Maths: Numbers

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 Taxonomy: Numerals as labels

The maths: Number