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Star Lane Learning

A selection of resources and ideas for early years settings to help you plan inspiring activities for self-chosen or adult-directed learning.

A selection of resources and ideas for early years settings to help you plan inspiring activities for self-chosen or adult-directed learning.
Button Sorting Mats EYFS/Pre-K, Year 1/K
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Button Sorting Mats EYFS/Pre-K, Year 1/K

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**Printable mats in beautiful colours to encourage sorting buttons by colour in adult-led activities and to enhance a maths area in continuous provision. ** Buttons in varied shades of each colour are illustrated with photographs to encourage thinking skills through discrimination and discussion. There is even a ‘Special Buttons’ mat as a place to keep the buttons which particularly attract the children’s attention. This provides a great opportunity for discussion of the properties of ‘special’ buttons and as a starting point for looking for items to be part of a collection based on different criteria. • A4 mats in lovely shades to suit all environments • Photographs of buttons for each colour • Primary colours • Secondary colours • Silver, gold and multicoloured • A ‘Special Buttons’ mat for the unique and appealing buttons • Editable PowerPoint How to use this resource These sorting mats provide a great tool when working on sorting, counting, and comparing groups in adult-led activities. In continuous provision they will support children to explore buttons whilst developing their mathematical skills. • Print and laminate to provide A4 mats • Sort buttons with children in adult-led group work • Discuss colours • Extend by discussing the number of holes in each button, the shapes, and sizes. • Mats are large enough to line-up sorted buttons facilitating early counting skills and comparing groups • Save as a PDF and print smaller • Leave mats with buttons in continuous provision • As it is an editable PowerPoint you can use the illustrations to create labels for your maths shelves
2D Shape Role-Play Game – EYFS/Pre-K
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2D Shape Role-Play Game – EYFS/Pre-K

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Create a Shape Shop in your Maths Area or for role-play to reinforce your children’s understanding of the properties of 2D shapes (sometimes known as flat shapes). The colourful images and clear lettering will entice your children to use their developing shape (and money) vocabulary as they play. Contents: • Shape shop banner • Pictures of shopkeepers inviting children to the Shape Shop. • Labels for shapes • Labels for shapes with prices in pennies matching the number of sides (i.e., triangles cost 3p) • 2 of each shape in assorted colours (triangles, squares, rectangles, hexagons). I also have a fully editable PowerPoint version available in my Star Lane Learning shop on TES where you can include more or fewer shapes to support or extend children’s understanding as required. Or if you are not in the UK, you can change the currency. **Why should you choose this resource? ** Whenever I have played this game in a class to support our work on 2D (or flat) shapes, children have wanted to repeat the game with their friends as part of their self-chosen activities. Why not enhance their experience with signs and labels to catch their attention and deepen the learning? Children will use their developing reading skills to read the signs and might try writing price tags. They will engage in meaningful conversations whilst in role and develop the negotiation skills needed to share the customer and shopkeeper roles. How to use: Create a shop with these and any other shapes you have. Children love a countertop and a till with money to support their play alongside the shape ‘produce.’ You could also add in maths mark making opportunities with price tags to write. Model how you would like them to play the game in a whole class or group time. Children should ask for a shape by its properties or attributes e.g. ‘Please can I have a shape with 3 straight sides and 3 corners.’ The shopkeeper then must find the correct shape. Why not introduce this activity in a whole class or group session using my Shape Shop PowerPoint, also found in my Star Lane Learning shop on TES? Fun characters model the language the children can use in the shop and animations reveal the shapes that match the descriptions.
The Enormous Turnip Characters - EYFS/Y1 Pre-K/K
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The Enormous Turnip Characters - EYFS/Y1 Pre-K/K

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Colourful and engaging characters to use as puppets or on a felt board to encourage storytelling language, imaginative play, or creative work. Eight pictures on two pages to print and use as required for storytelling or craft activities. Illustrations: • Enormous Turnip • Old Man (as farmer) • Old Woman • Boy • Girl • Dog • Cat • Mouse Why should you choose this resource? The repetitive and sequential nature of the story of The Enormous Turnip makes it an ideal story to use with children. As you tell and re-tell the story using these characters your children will begin to join in with the repeated elements such as ‘They pulled, and they pulled but they could not pull up the enormous turnip’. When these characters are left for the children to use independently, they will tell or adapt the story, using some of the story language. How to Use To create puppets, print on strong card or laminate and stick on to lolly sticks. For felt boards, laminate and add a strip of Velcro hooks. For craft activities print and cut out for creating individual books or pictures to encourage story re-telling.
Little Ducks Number Cards 0-10 EYFS
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Little Ducks Number Cards 0-10 EYFS

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**Little Ducks Number Cards 0-10 ** 0-10 Number cards with appealing but simple little ducks. All pictures are arranged in a line to support early counting skills. Link to the Rhyme ‘5 Little Ducks went Swimming One Day’. Numbers 5 and above arranged in 10 frame formations (but without the frame). Even numbers are printed in blue whilst odd numbers are printed in red to prompt discussion of odd and even numbers or counting in twos. Reinforce your children’s understanding of number order and one more or one less with these number cards. A5 size to create cards for games, wall frieze or ‘washing-line’ activity. You can also print smaller to create playing-card size for tabletop or small group work. • Includes 0 with an empty space • Ducks arranged in straight lines or 10 frame formations • Odds and evens printed in different colours • Charming and bright illustrations • Fully editable PowerPoint to adapt for your own uses or classroom style Possibly Uses: • As a wall frieze • Reference as you sing 5 Little Ducks Went Swimming One Day • With a washing-line and pegs to reinforce understanding of number order • With loose parts such as glass beads or corks to support counting and to match the numeral with the quantity • Print 2 sets of smaller cards for a pairs game • Print 2 or more sets for Snap • Print 2 or more sets for sorting and matching • Discuss odds and evens • Count in 2’s
2D Shape- What am I? -Clue Cards EY/Y1
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2D Shape- What am I? -Clue Cards EY/Y1

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Make this What am I? game with the children to reinforce their understanding of the properties of simple 2D/flat shapes, particularly sides and corners. The clues will be on the front of the card with the answer hidden inside. Older children will be able to read and fill in the details.(KS1/Kindergarten) Younger children (EYFS/Pre-K) will need more support, perhaps making a set of cards together as a group with the adult reading and scribing and the children adding a cut out, foam or sticky paper shape inside the card. Then play the game in groups or as a class plenary. Leave in the maths area for the children to revisit independently. This resource is free but I have an editable premium version with which you can create a resource tailored to your objectives, but where I have got you started on layout and spacing.
Number Cards 0-10 Pets
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Number Cards 0-10 Pets

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**0-10 Number cards with appealing pet illustrations randomly arranged for more challenging counting. ** Reinforce your children’s understanding of number order and one more or one less with these number cards. A5 size to create cards for games, wall frieze or ‘washing-line’ activity. You can also print smaller to create playing-card size for tabletop or small group work. • Includes 0 with an empty space • Animals randomly arranged • Brightly but appropriately coloured • Fully editable PowerPoint to adapt for your own uses or classroom style Possibly Uses: • As a wall frieze • With a washing-line and pegs to reinforce understanding of number order • With loose parts such as glass beads or corks to support counting and to match the numeral with the quantity • Print 2 sets of smaller cards for a pairs game • Print 2 or more sets for Snap • Print 2 or more sets for sorting and matching
The Shape Shop Game – Properties of 2D shapes
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The Shape Shop Game – Properties of 2D shapes

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Bring your class to The Shape Shop to reinforce their understanding of the properties of 2D shapes. The colourful pictures and simple animations in this PowerPoint will support the children’s developing knowledge. This PowerPoint will be a great introduction to a practical activity. Large, uncluttered pictures and repetitive language will enable your children to strengthen their concept of shape using the correct vocabulary. When I play this game in class, particularly if I have a role-play shop front, children enjoy playing the game afterwards as part of their self-chosen activities. Slide 1: Colourful introductory slide with all shapes to discuss if you wish Slide 2: Welcome to the shop with instructions for teacher to read Slide 3: Child in picture describes their shape ‘Please can I have a shape with 3 straight sides and 3 corners’. Your class then tries to guess the shape. Click to reveal. Slide 4: Child in picture describes another shape Slide 5: Child in picture describes another shape Slide 6: Shopkeeper invites your children to describe a shape, and everyone needs to work out which shape it is. Fully editable so you can include more or fewer shapes to support or extend children’s understanding as required. (Remember to save a master copy first).
2D Shape - What am I? Clue Card EY/KS1
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2D Shape - What am I? Clue Card EY/KS1

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An editable What am I? game clue card to reinforce the children’s understanding of the properties of 2D/flat shapes. Fill in the clues on the front and reveal the answer inside. Older children (Y1/Kindergarten) will be able to read and fill in the details by themselves. Younger children (EYFS/Pre-K) will need more support, perhaps making a set of cards together as a group with the adult reading and scribing and the children adding a cut out, foam or sticky paper shape inside the card. Then play the game in groups or as a class plenary. Leave in the maths area for the children to revisit independently. This an editable resource which you can adjust to your particular learning objectives and for differentiation, but with a head start on layout. I also have a free version if you only need the version you can see here.
2D Shape Role-Play Game – EYFS/Pre-K
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2D Shape Role-Play Game – EYFS/Pre-K

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Create a Shape Shop in your Maths Area or for role-play to reinforce your children’s understanding of the properties of 2D shapes (sometimes known as flat shapes). The colourful images and clear lettering will entice your children to use their developing shape (and money) vocabulary as they play. Contents: Shape shop banner Pictures of shopkeepers inviting children to the Shape Shop. Labels for shapes Labels for shapes with prices in pennies matching the number of sides (i.e., triangles cost 3p) 2 of each shape in assorted colours (triangles, squares, rectangles, hexagons). Fully editable so you can include more or fewer shapes to support or extend children’s understanding as required. Or if you are not in the UK, you can change the currency. (Remember to save a master copy first). I also have a free PDF version available in my Star Lane Learning shop on TES. Why should you choose this resource? Whenever I have played this game in a class to support our work on 2D (or flat) shapes, children have wanted to repeat the game with their friends as part of their self-chosen activities. Why not enhance their experience with signs and labels to catch their attention and deepen the learning? Children will use their developing reading skills to read the signs and might try writing price tags. They will engage in meaningful conversations whilst in role and develop the negotiation skills needed to share the customer and shopkeeper roles. How to use: Create a shop with these and any other shapes you have. Children love a countertop and a till with money to support their play alongside the shape ‘produce.’ You could also add in maths mark making opportunities with price tags to write. Model how you would like them to play the game in a whole class or group time. Children should ask for a shape by its properties or attributes e.g. ‘Please can I have a shape with 3 straight sides and 3 corners.’ The shopkeeper then must find the correct shape. Why not introduce this activity in a whole class or group session using my Shape Shop PowerPoint, also found in my Star Lane Learning shop on TES? Fun characters model the language the children can use in the shop and animations reveal the shapes that match the descriptions.
Christmas Number Cards 0-10
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Christmas Number Cards 0-10

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**0-10 Number cards with appealing but simple Christmas illustrations. ** All pictures are arranged in a line to support early counting skills. Numbers 5 and above arranged in 10 frame formations (but without the frame). Even numbers are printed in red whilst odd numbers are printed in green to prompt discussion of odd and even numbers or counting in twos. Reinforce your children’s understanding of number order and one more or one less with these number cards. A5 size to create cards for games, wall frieze or ‘washing-line’ activity. You can also print smaller to create playing-card size for tabletop or small group work. • Includes 0 with an empty space • Christmas items arranged in straight lines or 10 frame formations • Odds and evens printed in different colours • Charming and bright illustrations • Fully editable PowerPoint to adapt for your own uses or classroom style Possibly Uses: • As a wall frieze • With a washing-line and pegs to reinforce understanding of number order • With loose parts such as glass beads or corks to support counting and to match the numeral with the quantity • Print 2 sets of smaller cards for a pairs game • Print 2 or more sets for Snap • Print 2 or more sets for sorting and matching • Discuss odds and evens • Count in 2’s
On Bonfire Night - Fireworks Rhyme EYFS/Y1
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On Bonfire Night - Fireworks Rhyme EYFS/Y1

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On Bonfire Night at 5 o’clock I took my money to the firework shop. Use this ppt with animation and sounds for a maths, literacy or actions focus to enhance your children’s enjoyment of the traditional rhyme. The firework shop is full of rockets, bangers, rip raps, whizzers and fountains and they all make a sound. Everything costs between 1p and 5p. This presentation incorporates words, sounds and animated pictures to enable you to chant and move with the children or for the children to enjoy on a computer or tablet by themselves. All the fireworks move or make a sound on a click or tap. The cost of each firework is illustrated with 1p coins to the correct amount. In the classroom I chant this song with a strong rhythm that works well with the actions and sounds, but you will also find sung versions on the Internet. Ideas: Maths: Use the Powerpoint as a whole class introduction, perhaps role-playing paying with coins. You can then set up a firework shop role-play activity with construction toy fireworks to make and sell (Sticklebricks and K’nex are quite good for this). Perhaps print off some of the slides, adding prices. You could also include a clock to practice ‘5 o’clock’ or another time. Literacy: Go through the rhyme regularly with the children to help them learn the song. Enjoy the firework sounds. Change the rhyme to include other fireworks and choose more sounds to make. Children old enough to be spelling or segmenting can spell and write the words. If children can use a computer or tablet independently as part of continuous provision in your setting, they can move through the presentation, chanting with the pictures, using the mouse, arrow keys or swiping. Movement: Learn the song together in group or whole class times with hand actions. When everyone is familiar with the rhyme, scale up the movement inside or outside, incorporating ribbons and streamers with whole body actions. You could even include instruments to reinforce their understanding of the sounds. Hints: This is an editable presentation. Once downloaded remember to create a master copy then you can create other versions to suit your focus. Don’t forget to change these to read-only as the Powerpoint is full of animations and timings.
0-10 Number Cards - Root Vegetables
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0-10 Number Cards - Root Vegetables

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0-10 Number cards with clear and simple photographs of root vegetables along with their names. Pictures are arranged randomly to support developing early counting skills. Even numbers are printed in green whilst odd numbers are printed in purple to prompt discussion of odd and even numbers or counting in twos. Reinforce your children’s understanding of number order and one more or one less with these number cards. A5 size to create cards for games, wall frieze or ‘washing-line’ activity. You can also print smaller to create playing-card size for tabletop or small group work. • Includes 0 with an empty space • Odds and evens printed in different colours • Clear and bright illustrations • Fully editable PowerPoint to adapt for your own uses or classroom style • Familiar and unfamiliar vegetables will prompt discussion Possibly Uses: • As a wall frieze • Within a role-play area to prompt discussion • With a washing-line and pegs to reinforce understanding of number order • With loose parts such as glass beads or corks to support counting and to match the numeral with the quantity • Print 2 sets of smaller cards for a pairs game • Print 2 or more sets for Snap • Print 2 or more sets for sorting and matching • Discuss odds and evens • Count in 2’s • Fully editable so vegetables could be arranged in lines for easier counting