Get ready for some delicious learning with our Pancake Day: Dice Counting Game Activity! This fun, 'pancake' themed printable is designed specifically for EYFS children, offering a delightful way to practise number recognition and counting skills in a playful setting.
Perfect for Preschool, Nursery, School, or for Parents and Childminders celebrating Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) at home, this interactive game encourages hands-on learning with a tasty twist!
How the game works: Children roll a dice and then place the corresponding number of 'blueberries' (or other chosen manipulatives) onto the printable pancake. It's a simple, effective, and highly engaging way to reinforce early mathematical concepts.
Differentiate this activity for all learners!
For emerging counters: Provide strong verbal prompts and model the counting. You could use larger, easy-to-handle counters.
For developing counters: Encourage independent counting and self-correction.
For confident counters: Introduce two dice for addition practice, or challenge them to count silently before placing.
How to use this resource in your classroom/setting
Our Pancake Day: Dice Counting Game Activity is incredibly flexible and can be used in a multitude of ways across various early years environments:
Preschool, Nursery & Childminder Settings:
Small Group Play: Ideal for a small group activity where children take turns rolling the dice and counting.
Independent Station: Set up as a continuous provision activity at a maths or role-play area.
Versatile Manipulatives: Beyond blueberries (printable or drawn!), you can use actual blueberries (if safe for children!), counters, pom-poms, buttons, flat pebbles, or any small loose parts you have available (again, with safety in mind). This also develops fine motor skills.
Reception Class (EYFS):
Maths Focus: Use during a maths input session to introduce or reinforce counting and number recognition.
Differentiation: Easily differentiate by providing different levels of support, or by having children work with one or two dice.
Cross-Curricular Link: Integrate into a 'Pancake Day' or 'Food' theme, linking maths to real-world celebrations.
Assessment Opportunity: Observe children's counting strategies, one-to-one correspondence, and number recognition.
Learning objectives covered (EYFS Framework)
This engaging activity supports key developmental areas within the EYFS framework:
Mathematics (Number):
Counting Objects: Children learn to count objects reliably up to 10 (or more if using two dice/higher numbers).
Number Recognition: Recognise numerals from 1 to 6 (or up to 12 if using two dice).
One-to-One Correspondence: Develop accurate one-to-one correspondence by touching and counting each item as it's placed.
Subitising (indirectly): With repeated play, children may begin to recognise the number of dots on the dice without needing to count them individually.
Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills): Picking up and placing small items (blueberries/counters) onto the pancake helps to strengthen hand muscles, develop a pincer grip, and enhance hand-eye coordination.
Communication and Language: Opportunities for children to use mathematical vocabulary (e.g., 'more', 'less', number names) and describe their actions.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development: Taking turns, sharing, and celebrating success in a game context fosters social skills and self-esteem.
Download our Pancake Day: Dice Counting Game Activity today and serve up a stack of early maths fun for your little learners!
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