The numbers to ten are the building blocks of the number system. Mastering counting, subitising, numerals, composition and ordering of numbers to ten provides young children with a strong foundation for future learning in mathematics. It is worth investing time in exploring and playing with numbers to ten, and the Ten in the Bed resource provides a wealth of opportunities for this. This seemingly simple resource has been cleverly designed to maximise mathematical learning. Inspired by the popular number song Ten in the Bed, it can be used over and over again, providing a familiar context to develop not only a deep understanding of numbers to ten but also essential pattern learning. Children who are able to spot patterns notice mathematical structures and relationships, which is at the heart of being mathematical.
The ten teddies and the bed are double-sided. The teddies have numbers on one side so that children can learn the meaning of the numerals and the order of the numbers. The other side is unnumbered so that children can count and subitise ‘how many’ teddies there are, being able to use them in any order and move them into groups without the distraction of numerals. It is important that children learn both the order of the numbers (ordinality or sequence) and the meaning of the numbers (cardinality or ‘how many-ness’), as these form the essentials of number sense and provide a secure foundation for future mathematics learning.
Mathematical vocabulary to use with children is shown in bold.
Specification
- Made from FSC-certified beech and pine.
- Includes bed base 450 x 40 x 50mm and ten bear characters.
-
Safe for children age 18m+.
