Early Years Numeracy: Fairground games

Fairground games can be used for all sorts of fun early years numeracy activities. They are a particularly great way of combining numerical and problem solving skills with physical development in an indoor or outdoor setting. Here are a couple of really simple ideas which can be adapted in any number of ways…

Create a target board with the children. It can take any shape or form that they want and divide it up in to section with different numbers. Ask the children to pick out their favourite toys from the nursery / school or select a collection yourself. Lay the toys on the floor or a table next to number cards that correspond to the numbers on the board. You could put a collection of toys next to number one, another collection next to number 2 etc. The children must then stand on a marker (set at a distance away from the board) and throw a ball or bean bag at the target. When they hit a number on the target board they will be able to choose a toy from the collection that matches that number.

Extended learning

This game could be made more difficult by introducing coins and money. Instead of just numbers the target board could refer to monetary values – 1p, 2p, 3p etc. They would be rewarded with coins which they could then swap for toys which would have a particular monetary value. It could be done simply by using 1ps or you could make things even more challenging by introducing 5ps, 10ps 20ps etc. If a child hits 17p on the target board he would have to work out the correct combination of coins from the pot of money. You could add another option to the game by making 6 markers on the floor, labelled 1 – 6. Each marker would be set at a different distance away from the board – number 6 being the closest. Before throwing the ball or bean bag the contestant would first have to roll a dice to determine where he/she stands. 

Another variation of the game would be to use rubber hoops and cones or you could fill numbered bottles up with different amounts of sand, water, gravel etc and get the children to try and knock them over with a ball or bean bag. This latter option would add an extra dimension as children would have the option of going for a lower value bottle that’s easier to knock over or to try a higher value bottle that is heavier and harder to knock over.

These games present so many opportunities for learning, particularly in relation to problem solving, reasoning and numeracy. They are also very entertaining and engaging!

 A copy of this article is available to download in our Early Years Numeracy Activities booklet.