Reception have had a "toad-ally" awesome time in maths this week! Our classroom has been filled with the sound of music and splashing as we dived headfirst into the world of subtraction using one of our favourite nursery rhymes: Five Little Speckled Frogs.
Introducing the concept of "one less" is a big milestone in our math journey. It’s the moment children move from simply counting what is there to understanding what happens when a quantity decreases.
What We Did:
As we sang the song together, the children would help a speckled frog "jump" off the log and into the water. Every time a frog splashed into the pool, we paused to ask: "How many are left on the log now?" By physically moving the frogs, the children could see that the group was getting smaller. We practised using our "math fingers" to show the number five, then tucking one away to see four, and so on.
Why This Matters:
In the Early Years, we focus on concrete learning. Before children can solve 5 - 1 = 4 on paper, they need to feel it and see it happen. This activity helped us:
- Develop one-to-one correspondence (pointing to each frog as we count).
- Understand the vocabulary of subtraction: less, fewer, take away, and remaining.
- Build subitising skills (recognising how many are in a group without counting them one by one).
Try This at Home!
You don't need a log or toy frogs to keep the momentum going! You can practise "one less" during your daily routine:
- Snack Time: "You have 5 grapes. If you eat one, how many will you have left?"
- Bath Time: Use rubber ducks or foam shapes to reenact the "jumping into the pool" game.
- Tidying Up: "We have 4 cars on the floor. If we put one in the box, how many are still out?"
The children were so proud of their "taking away" skills today. Be sure to ask them to sing you the song tonight—they are absolute experts!
Teacher Tip: If your child is finding it tricky, use their fingers! It's the best visual tool they carry with them everywhere.
