Counting
What comes next?
Say the numbers to 10 in order.
Talk about it: Can you count up to it with me?
Ages 4 to 5 · EYFS
Reception maths activities
36 free activities for the first year at school: counting, seeing small numbers at a glance, and the bonds inside numbers to 10. Each one is mapped to the EYFS Early Learning Goals.
- 36 activities
- All 7 activity types
- Every question read aloud
Activity types
Reception activities
Choose a type, or browse them all. Each activity is a short round of spoken questions, with something to talk about at the end.
Showing 9 of 36 Reception activities
- Counting
Tap and count
Count objects to 10, touching each one once.
Talk about it: What did you say last? So how many?
- Counting
How many went in?
Say how many: the last number I count is the total.
Talk about it: Did you need to count again? Why not?
- Counting
Feed the hedgehog
Count out a number of things from a bigger group.
Talk about it: How did you know when to stop?
- Counting
Still the same?
Count things however they are arranged, and know moving them doesn't change how many.
Talk about it: Did any frogs hop away? So…?
- Counting
Count the drum
Count sounds and actions I can't touch.
Talk about it: Can you clap the same number?
- Counting
Past twenty
Count beyond 20 and hear the pattern.
Talk about it: What happens after nine every time?
- Counting
Rocket countdown
Count back from 10, then from 20.
Talk about it: Shall we count down together, quietly?
- Recognise and represent
Number match
Match numerals 0–10 to how many.
Talk about it: Can you draw that number in the air?
- Recognise and represent
Find the plate
Match numerals 0–10 to how many.
Talk about it: How did you check?
- Recognise and represent
Empty nest
Know that zero means none.
Talk about it: What number means none?
- Recognise and represent
Fill the frame
Show a number on a five frame and a ten frame.
Talk about it: How many empty spaces are there?
- Recognise and represent
Show me fingers
Show and read numbers to 10 on fingers.
Talk about it: How else could you show that number on your fingers?
- Recognise and represent
Track hop
Find numbers on a number track to 20.
Talk about it: Which numbers live next door?
- Recognise and represent
Track race
Find numbers on a number track to 20.
Talk about it: Say the numbers as you hop.
- Subitising
Peekaboo dots
See 1, 2 or 3 at a glance.
Talk about it: How did you know without counting?
- Subitising
Dice flash
See 4 and 5 in dice and other patterns.
Talk about it: What shape did the dots make?
- Subitising
See it or count it?
Tell when I can see a number and when I need to count.
Talk about it: When do you need to count?
- Subitising
Hiding numbers
See smaller numbers hiding inside a bigger one.
Talk about it: What numbers did you see inside?
- Subitising
Five and a bit
See 6–10 as "five and a bit" on fingers and frames.
Talk about it: Where is the five?
- Composition and bonds
Two plates
See that numbers to 5 are made of smaller parts.
Talk about it: Can you show it on your fingers?
- Composition and bonds
Shake the beans
See that numbers to 5 are made of smaller parts.
Talk about it: Is it still five altogether?
- Composition and bonds
Mice in the house
Know the bonds to 5 without counting.
Talk about it: How did you know?
- Composition and bonds
Fill the gaps
See how numbers to 10 are made, on a ten frame.
Talk about it: Can you see it without counting?
- Composition and bonds
Beads behind the hand
Know some bonds to 10.
Talk about it: Which bond to ten did you use?
- Composition and bonds
Ladybird doubles
Know doubles up to double 5.
Talk about it: How many spots are on one wing? What is double that?
- Compare and order
Party plates
Say which group has more, fewer or the same, by matching.
Talk about it: How can you tell without counting?
- Compare and order
Elephants and mice
Compare groups to 10 by counting, even when the things are different sizes.
Talk about it: Does size matter when we count?
- Compare and order
Staircase
Say one more and one less than a number to 10.
Talk about it: How did your tower change?
- Compare and order
Washing line
Put numbers 0–10 in order.
Talk about it: Which number is the smallest?
- Add and subtract
Picnic baskets
Put two groups together and say how many altogether.
Talk about it: Which number did you start from?
- Add and subtract
First, then, now
Follow "first, then, now" stories where some come or go.
Talk about it: What happened in the story?
- Share and group
Teddy picnic
Share things fairly and spot when a share isn't fair.
Talk about it: How do you know it's fair?
- Share and group
Is it fair?
Share things fairly and spot when a share isn't fair.
Talk about it: How could we make it fair?
- Share and group
Partners
Sort numbers to 10 into odd and even by their shape.
Talk about it: Which numbers always have a partner?
- Share and group
Double and half
Split a double into two equal halves.
Talk about it: If you know the double, what is half?
For teachers
What children practise in Reception
How the activities support the Early Learning Goals for mathematics, in the framework’s own words.
| Early Learning Goal | Activities |
|---|---|
| Have a deep understanding of numbers to 10, including the composition of each number. | Tap and count, How many went in?, Feed the hedgehog, Still the same?, Count the drum, Number match, Find the plate, Empty nest, Fill the frame, Show me fingers, Hiding numbers, Five and a bit, Two plates, Shake the beans, Fill the gaps, Staircase, Picnic baskets, First, then, now |
| Subitise (recognise quantities without counting) up to 5. | Peekaboo dots, Dice flash, See it or count it?, Hiding numbers |
| Automatically recall (without reference to rhymes, counting or other aids) number bonds up to 5 (including subtraction facts) and some number bonds to 10, including double facts. | Mice in the house, Beads behind the hand, Ladybird doubles |
| Verbally count beyond 20, recognising the pattern of the counting system. | What comes next?, Past twenty, Rocket countdown, Track hop, Track race |
| Compare quantities up to 10 in different contexts, recognising when one quantity is greater than, less than or the same as the other quantity. | Party plates, Elephants and mice, Staircase, Washing line |
| Explore and represent patterns within numbers up to 10, including evens and odds, double facts and how quantities can be distributed equally. | Ladybird doubles, Teddy picnic, Is it fair?, Partners, Double and half |
Have a deep understanding of numbers to 10, including the composition of each number.
Tap and count, How many went in?, Feed the hedgehog, Still the same?, Count the drum, Number match, Find the plate, Empty nest, Fill the frame, Show me fingers, Hiding numbers, Five and a bit, Two plates, Shake the beans, Fill the gaps, Staircase, Picnic baskets, First, then, now
Subitise (recognise quantities without counting) up to 5.
Peekaboo dots, Dice flash, See it or count it?, Hiding numbers
Automatically recall (without reference to rhymes, counting or other aids) number bonds up to 5 (including subtraction facts) and some number bonds to 10, including double facts.
Mice in the house, Beads behind the hand, Ladybird doubles
Verbally count beyond 20, recognising the pattern of the counting system.
What comes next?, Past twenty, Rocket countdown, Track hop, Track race
Compare quantities up to 10 in different contexts, recognising when one quantity is greater than, less than or the same as the other quantity.
Party plates, Elephants and mice, Staircase, Washing line
Explore and represent patterns within numbers up to 10, including evens and odds, double facts and how quantities can be distributed equally.
Ladybird doubles, Teddy picnic, Is it fair?, Partners, Double and half
From the EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers (September 2026), early learning goals.
At home
Playing together
A few minutes, a grown-up alongside and plenty of chat. That is all it takes.
Step 1: Keep it short
Two or three activities is plenty. Stop while it is still fun.
Step 2: Turn the sound on
Every question is spoken, so your child can play before they can read.
Step 3: Ask the talk question
Each activity suggests one. Carry on with real cups, toys and fingers.
My child can’t read yet. Can they still play?
Yes. Every question is read aloud, and the answers are numbers and pictures. A replay button reads the question again.
What is subitising?
Seeing how many there are without counting, as you do with the dots on a dice. It is one of the Early Learning Goals for Reception.
Can we use the activities on a whiteboard?
Yes. The activities fill the screen, with big buttons that are easy to tap at the board, and every question is read aloud for the whole class.
Try a Reception activity
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