1. Marking out a space to make a camp Show an interest in shape and space by playing with shapes or making arrangements with objects

2. Children developed the idea of making a ‘recycling tower’ and filling it with stones; they made this with little adult support, but with plenty of supervision because of the stones.

3. Dismantling the recycling tower required a hard hat and a hose!

4. Showing an interest by sustained construction activity or by talking about shapes or arrangements

5. Tactile problem solving and pattern making. ‘I am a diagonal’.

6. Children need time and the opportunity to practice in an affirming environment to develop their mark making

7. Using developing mathematical ideas and methods to solve practical problems

8. By programming the Bee-Bot the child made it follow the route Describing solutions to practical problems, drawing on experience, talking about own ideas and methods and choices

9. Mark making to cover an area

10. Beginning to understand covering an area and variations in size

11. Mark making in the outdoor environment

12. Observing and using positional language using Pixie with a pen

13. Representational drawing using photos to make maps

14. Using and developing mathematical ideas and methods to solve practical problems

15. Showing an interest in patterns and using it to derive facts

16. The map became 3D as it had bridges!

17. By providing paper the child was able to develop the pattern activity into a mark making and recording activity with a friend

18. Elaborate graphics and mathematical understanding come together!

19. Statements have come from the Early Years Foundation Stage consultation document (2006) (Development matters. Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy Pages 59-71)

20. Photos were taken during the period autumn 06 - spring 07. Felicity Higginson