Reception Cooperate & Solve Problems Unit 1 Lesson 3

Objective: Develop number recognition, teamwork and movement control while staying active.

Set up: Place hoops or mats around the space to act as “islands”.

How to Play:

• Pupils move freely around the area using different travelling actions such as jogging, sidestepping or hopping. Keep them moving for 5 minutes to raise their heart rate.
• Call out a number (e.g. 3). Pupils must quickly form groups of that number and stand together on an island.
  • Start with smaller numbers (2 or 3), then increase as confidence grows.
  • Any pupils not in a group complete that number of star jumps before rejoining.

Pause and ask: Can you feel your heart beating? Can you count your beats?

Extension: Once in groups, pupils must hold a shape balance together for 3 seconds (e.g. tuck, one-foot balance).

Look For: Pupils moving safely and staying active, responding quickly to numbers, and forming groups accurately. Look for pupils working cooperatively, communicating to organise themselves, showing awareness of space and others, and demonstrating control and balance when holding group shapes.

Set Up: Pupils work in pairs on a mat.

Using the teacher number shapes resource, introduce each shape with a clear demonstration and key teaching points so pupils understand how to position their bodies – See teaching points in the printable “Teachers Guide”.

Give each pair a “Pupil Shapes Handout”. Pupils work through numbers 1–10, taking turns to create the shapes and help their partner.

Encourage pupils to focus on clear shapes, control and support each other to improve.

Easier: Reduce the number of numbers they attempt.

Look for: Pupils creating clear and recognisable number shapes with their bodies, showing control and balance while holding positions. Look for pupils working cooperatively, helping and guiding their partner, showing awareness of space, and trying to improve the accuracy of their shapes.

Set up: Once pupils are confident with single-digit shapes, challenge them to work in pairs to create double-digit numbers.

Start with numbers up to 20 (e.g. 10, 12, 15, 18). Each pupil forms one digit, working together to show the full number clearly. Remind pupils to swap roles regularly so both partners practise different digits.

Encourage pupils to focus on clear shapes, spacing and control so the number is easy to recognise.

Extension:

• Remove the resource card so pupils create numbers from memory.
• Transfer the shapes from standing to lying down.

Look For: Pupils creating clear and recognisable double-digit numbers, showing control and balance in their shapes. Working cooperatively and communicating with one another to position themselves correctly. Pupils should show awareness of space, maintain good body tension, and adapt their shapes when working from memory or at different levels.