Getting started.
Collect together socks in various sizes, colours and lengths. The children are invited to sort, count and pair them. Some paper socks prepared for children to decorate could extend the activity
Possible Context.
You can find the story of Manylegs and Lotslegs here. Other contexts may be Ourselves, or Minibeasts, or even Monsters and Robots.
1. Sorting and Counting.
Tell me about the socks you"ve got.
What about the socks you are wearing to=day?
What can you tell me about these socks?
2. Sorting and Matching.
Tell me about your sorting.
Can you find any socks that go together.
Tell me about the pairs you've found
Some of the possible routes they might take.
1. Sorting and counting.
2. Sorting and matching.
3. Ordering by size.
4. Patterns on socks.
5. Solving problems and creating patterns.
3. Ordering.
Tell me what you've done here.
Are there other socks to put with these?
4. Patterns.
Tell me about the patterns you can see on the socks.
Are there other socks with a pattern like that?
In addition to these Mathematical observations you will have opportunities to observe other aspects of the EYFS Themes and Commitments. You may like to print off this sheet as an aide, on which you can note down observations.
Please do send us photo, further suggestions and comments.
Print this out here .
5. Creating Patterns.
Tell me about your pattern.
Could you make another pattern that's like that?