Valentine's Day: Loose Parts Hearts (Big/Small) | EYFS & KS1 Printables

Early Years (EYFS & KS1) Valentine’s Day Activity: Loose Parts Hearts (Big/Small) Investigation

Ignite an exploration of size, shape, and comparison with our delightful Valentine's Day: Loose Parts Hearts (Big/Small)! These engaging printables are perfect for EYFS and KS1 children, providing a wonderful, hands-on invitation to investigate mathematical concepts and develop crucial fine motor skills.

Designed with charming heart outlines, these sheets are ideal for Preschool, Nursery, School, or for Parents and Childminders at home. This versatile resource includes both a 'big' heart and a 'small' heart, setting the stage for a compelling size and shape investigation.

(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.)

• 💡 How to use this resource in your classroom/setting

  Our Valentine's Day: Loose Parts Hearts (Big/Small) are incredibly versatile and can be used in a multitude of ways across various early years and KS1 environments:

  • Size and Shape Exploration:

    • Print both the 'big' and the 'small' heart templates.

    • For younger children (EYFS): Focus on the vocabulary 'big' and 'small'. Ask children to describe the shapes of the hearts.

    • For older children (KS1): Extend the discussion by asking deeper comparative questions like, "How are they similar?" and "How are they different?" (e.g., "They are both heart shapes, but one is bigger than the other").

  • Loose Parts Investigation & Counting:

    • Provide a variety of loose parts – these can be chosen to adapt for different ages (e.g., larger items like Duplo bricks for younger children, smaller items like beads or buttons for older children).

    • Challenge: "How many [e.g., Duplo bricks] can you fit inside the big heart? How many can you fit in the small heart?" Children can then compare the amounts, leading to discussions about quantity and capacity.

    • Fine Motor Development: Encourage the use of a tool such as tweezers in the process of placing loose parts. This significantly aids the development of fine motor control, grip strength, and precision.

  • Sorting Activity (For Youngest Children):

    • These templates can be used as a stimulus to sort small and big objects.

    • Set up a table with a collection of objects that have both a small and a big version (e.g., a big button and a small button, a big block and a small block).

    • Children then place the appropriate-sized objects next to the corresponding 'big' or 'small' heart template.

  • Creative Play: Children can also simply use the hearts as a base for creating art with loose parts, exploring patterns and colours.

• 🎯 Learning objectives covered - 🐣 EYFS Framework

  EYFS Framework:

  • Mathematics (Shape, Space and Measure): Children explore and understand concepts of size ('big' and 'small'), compare quantities, and investigate shapes. They compare objects and discuss similarities and differences.

  • Mathematics (Number): Children learn to count objects (e.g., how many loose parts fit inside each heart) and make comparisons between amounts.

  • Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills): Manipulating loose parts and using tools like tweezers helps to strengthen small hand muscles, develop a pincer grip, and enhance hand-eye coordination.

  • Communication and Language: Encourages rich vocabulary development related to size, shape, and quantity (e.g., 'big', 'small', 'more than', 'less than', 'same', 'different'). Promotes discussion and explanation.

  • Understanding the World (Exploring Materials): Children investigate the properties of different loose parts and how they can be used.

• 🎯 Learning objectives covered - 🐤 KS1 Curriculum

  KS1 Curriculum:

  • Mathematics (Measurement - Length & Capacity; Properties of Shape): Children can compare lengths and capacity by investigating how many items fit. They can describe 2-D shapes and compare and sort them.

  • Science (Working Scientifically / Everyday Materials - indirectly): Observing and comparing the properties of different loose parts.

  • Design and Technology (indirectly): Using tools (tweezers) to manipulate materials for a purpose.

  • English (Spoken Language): Children describe their observations, comparisons, and justify their reasoning when discussing similarities and differences.

Download our Valentine's Day: Loose Parts Hearts (Big/Small) today and open up a world of hands-on size and shape exploration for your EYFS and KS1 learners!

⬅️ VALENTINE’S DAY Topic Page

⬅️ EMOTIONS & FEELINGS Topic Page

⬅️ KINDNESS & FRIENDSHIP Topic Page

⬅️ FESTIVALS & CELEBRATIONS Menu Page

📌 related Printable Early Years resources

Fancy browsing some more of our early years printable resources?

EYFS & KS1 themes & topics you may be interested in

Explore more captivating EYFS and KS1 educational activities and printable packs covering various popular themes and topics for your classroom, setting or home learning.

Alternatively, SEARCH ‘LITTLE OWLS Resources’ for printable educational materials USING THE MENU BUTTONS below…

Please use the following buttons to explore our wealth of teaching and learning resources; perfect for use with your early years (EYFS and KS1) children.