Aspect: Shape, space & measures

Introduction

This is the thirteenth blog in our series on the 7 areas of learning & development (L&D). So far we have looked at what the 7 areas of L&D are and have discussed why they are important. We have also looked at the three prime areas of learning & development: ‘Personal, Social & Emotional development’, ‘Communication & Language’, and ‘Physical Development’. After this we moved on to look at the first of four specific areas of learning & development. We have also suggested activities that promote each of the aspects which sit within the areas.

We have now moved on to look at the second specific area of learning & development, Mathematics. This area of L&D consists of 2 parts, which are known as ‘Aspects’. Each aspect leads to one of the 17 EYFS early learning goals (the knowledge, skills and understanding children should have at the end of the academic year in which they turn five). The diagram below shows how the Mathematics area is made up of two aspects and two early learning goals:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The EYFS framework document describes how “Mathematics involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces and measures.”  The two aspects each support this aim.

In our last blog we discussed the ‘numbers’ aspect, this blog we focus on the second aspect within this specific area of Mathematics: Shape, space & measures.

Shape, space & measures

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It is worth noting that the allocation of activities to aspects and areas of L&D is often subjective and many activities cover more than one aspect and more than one area of L&D. Further the activities can cover multiple characteristics of effective learning and can be a mix of adult-led and child-initiated. So these are suggestions for you to adapt and work into your practice in a way that best suits you and your setting across all your planning. Always remember to supervise children and ensure the activity is safe and age and development-appropriate.

I hope these suggested activities have given you some inspiration. You could incorporate them into your planning as ad hoc activities or as part of a wider theme. For example the pizza making activity could be part of a month’s theme on food. In our next blog in the series we move to look at the sixth area of learning & development – Understanding the world.

Thanks for reading,

 

Source used in the document:

Early Years Foundation Stage Framework, DfE 2012

Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage, DfE 2012

 

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