Early Years Pancake Day Activity/Display: Count Chocolate Drops
Get ready for a sweet treat of learning with our Pancake: Counting Chocolate Drops (1-20) Activity/Display! This fantastic printable is designed specifically for EYFS children, offering a highly engaging and delicious-looking way to develop number recognition, counting, and one-to-one correspondence skills up to 20.
Perfect for Preschool, Nursery, School, or for Parents and Childminders celebrating Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) or simply enjoying a food theme, this resource provides versatile 'pancake' themed visuals.
This comprehensive pack features:
Individual pancake printables for numbers 1-20: Each pancake clearly displays a numeral (1-20) and the corresponding number of chocolate drops/buttons, providing a visual aid for accurate one-to-one correspondence counting.
(Note: Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity suggested on this page and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)
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Our Pancake: Counting Chocolate Drops activity is incredibly versatile and can be used in a multitude of ways across various early years environments:
Create a Pancake Number Line: Print and arrange the pancakes from 1 to 20 to form a vibrant and interactive number line around your classroom or learning space. This provides a constant visual reference for children.
Loose Parts Counting Activity (Tuff Spot Fun!):
Place a selection of appropriate number pancakes (e.g., numbers 1-5, then 6-10, depending on children's abilities) in a tuff spot or shallow tray.
Provide themed loose parts (e.g., real chocolate buttons/chips if safe and appropriate, brown pom-poms, flat counters, or even small pebbles).
Challenge: Can children count out the correct number of loose parts to place on each pancake, matching the numeral and existing chocolate drops? This is excellent for one-to-one correspondence and fine motor skills.
Play an Ordering Game:
"Can you place the pancakes in the right order?" Mix up a set of pancakes (e.g., 1-10 or 1-20) and challenge children to put them in numerical sequence.
"Which number pancake is missing?" After placing the pancakes in order, discreetly take one away. Can your child(ren) work out which one is missing? This encourages logical thinking and number sequence recall.
Flashcards/Small Group Work: Use individual pancakes as flashcards for quick number recognition drills.
Display Boards: The colourful pancakes make a delicious-looking addition to any maths or Pancake Day themed display.
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This comprehensive activity supports key developmental areas within the EYFS framework:
Mathematics (Number):
Counting Objects: Children learn to count objects reliably up to 20.
Number Recognition: Confidently recognise and identify numerals from 1 to 20.
One-to-One Correspondence: Develop accurate one-to-one correspondence by matching each chocolate drop/loose part to a count.
Ordering Numbers: Understand and order numbers sequentially from 1 to 20.
Missing Numbers: Develop problem-solving skills to identify missing numbers in a sequence.
Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills): Picking up and placing loose parts onto the pancakes 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', 'next', number names) and describe their counting process.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development: Taking turns (in games), sharing, and celebrating success in a game context fosters social skills and self-esteem.
Download our Pancake: Counting Chocolate Drops (1-20) Activity/Display today and dish up a stack of early maths fun for your little learners!
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