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Topic “Maths Using and Applying”

Finding items/objects from subcategories

Activity/strategy name and materials required	How to do the activity	Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Subcategory Dice - Printable subcategory dice templates :Animals :Food :Household Items - Printable subcategory cards :Animals :Food :Household Items	Choose which subcategory you would like to focus on. Cut out and make up the dice. Cut out the matching subcategory cards. Spread the subcategory cards on the surface in front of you and your child. Explain to your child that you are going to take turns at rolling the dice, which ever side the dice lands on, you need to find a picture that fits into that category. Name the item that you have found. If you child is finding it challenging to name items try using some of the strategies to support word finding - click here (add link) Remember some items might fit in 2 or more subcategories dependent on the child's personal experience. You could use this as a discussion point.	If your child is finding this task challenging, you can help by searching for an item together. It may also be useful to visit activities working on sorting items into categories - click here. If your child is able to do this activity, when they select a card, you could ask them to think of another item that belongs to that subcategory but is not in the picture cards.

Activities to develop finding items from different categories

Activity/strategy name and materials required	How to do the activity	Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Category Dice - category dice template - click here - printable category cards (click on each category): - clothes - animals - body parts - food - transport - toys	Cut out and make up the category dice. Cut out the category cards. Spread the category cards on the surface in front of you and your child. Explain to your child that you are going to take turns at rolling the dice, which ever side the dice lands on, you need to find a picture that fits into that category. Name the item that you have found. If you child is finding it challenging to name items try using some of the strategies to support word finding - click here (add link) Remember some items might fit in 2 or more subcategories dependent on the child's personal experience. You could use this as a discussion point.	If your child is finding this task challenging, you can help by searching for an item together. It may also be useful to visit activities working on sorting items into categories - click here. If your child is able to do this activity, when they select a card, you could ask them to think of another item that belongs to that category but is not in the picture cards.

Same and different

Activity/strategy name and materials required	How to do the activity	Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Identifying a group of identical things as the same and a final object as different A group of identical objects e.g. red lego bricks/coloured beakers/paint brushes and an object that is quite different. Pictures of identical things e.g. lots of pictures of apples/shoes from the computer. Or photo copy something a number of times Contrast with a different computer image or photo copied item.	Put out the identical objects one at a time and say 'Red lego, red lego' etc 'Look...........the same.' Use a sign/symbol/word to label the things as 'Same'. Make a show of the item that is different. Label as 'Different' with sign/symbol/word. Follow the same procedure with pictures as for working with objects.	Its easier to identify something as different when it is very different from others in the group Extend understanding of this concept to everyday e.g. comment on children who have the same anorak/shoes/dinner and then contrast with a child who is different.
Barrier games Colouring -in pictures of house/car/child/snowman etc	Login or register to see the instructions for this activity.
Snap Set of snap cards.	Login or register to see the instructions for this activity.

Activities to develop categorising items by where you find them/location

Activity/strategy name and materials required	How to do the activity	Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Soring by location activity - Sorting by location picture cards - click here to print	1. Print and cut out the resource. 2. Choose how many categories your child is going to sort - it may be best to start with 2 or 3, before making it harder by adding extra categories. 3. Shuffle the items to be sorted. Each take a turn at choosing an item, naming it and placing in the correct location. 4. If your child is finding challenging to name items, use some of the strategies in the word finding information sheet linked above.
Make a collage - Paper - Glue - A selection of pictures from your chosen category.	Login or register to see the instructions for this activity.

Developing the skill of sorting items into categories

Activity/strategy name and materials required	How to do the activity	Key principles for doing the activity and comments
Sorting items by category - Printable category cards - Printable category picture cards: - animals - body parts - clothes - food - toys - transport Or use a seletion of your own real objects or pictures.	1. Print and cut out the large category cards and the small picture cards. 2. Start by sorting items from teo different categories. 3. Place the picture cards from the categories face down. Explain to your child you are going to sort the items into groups. 4. Each take a turn at choosing a picture card, naming them item and placing it in the on the appropriate category card. 5. If your child is able to sort items into two catgories, next attemp items from three different categories.	If your child is finding this task challenging, you can help by searching for an item together. If your child is able to do this activity, when they select a card, you could ask them to think of another item that belongs to that subcategory but is not in the picture cards. You could also move on to the activities that involve sorting items into subcategories - click here.

Categories - to recognise the odd one out

Activity/strategy name and materials required	How to do the activity	Key principles for doing the activity and comments
What's in the bag - Draw string bag - Sets of objects, for example: Groups of pens, cars, Lego bricks. - You could also use objects which differ markedly in texture, for example six normal pieces of paper and a piece of sandpaper. If you do not have obejcts available you could print out and use a selection of category cards below: - clothes - animals - body parts - food - transport - toys	1. Put a group of objects/pictures into a bag and add one clearly different object/picutre. 2. Take turns taking things out of the bag and saying/signing what they are. 3. Comment on the item that is different, for example "look... this is the odd one out" or "this is different" (look surprised, puzzled, make an exclamation).
Odd one out pictures - Odd one out pictures - click here to print	Login or register to see the instructions for this activity.

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