Sharing Using Tens Frames

Description

Help children develop their understanding of sharing equally with this engaging bear and boy maths activity. Children explore how a quantity can be distributed fairly between two people or characters, developing an early understanding of equal groups and division.

To prepare the resource, laminate each of the pages so they can be used repeatedly. The images on the final page can also be laminated and cut out individually for children to use when sharing. Alternatively, provide counters or other small objects to give children a hands-on way to explore the activity.

Give children a selection of objects and ask them to share them equally between the bear and the boy, dealing them out one at a time. Encourage children to explain how they have shared the objects and check carefully that both characters have received the same amount.

This activity is ideal for Early Years and KS1, providing a practical introduction to equal sharing and the early mathematical concepts that underpin division. Dealing the objects sequentially helps children see how a quantity can be shared fairly between two groups.

Children can practise:
Sharing quantities equally
Recognising equal groups
Counting accurately
Comparing quantities
Understanding early division
Using mathematical language
Explaining their mathematical thinking
Developing problem-solving skills

Encourage children to explain their reasoning using questions such as:

“How many did you start with?”
“How many do they have each?”
“Do they have an equal amount?”
“How do you know they have the same?”
“Can you share them in a different way?”

The laminated images and practical objects make this resource ideal for hands-on maths provision. Children can physically move the objects between the bear and boy, helping them to develop a concrete understanding of equal sharing before moving towards more abstract mathematical ideas.

The activity can be used as a teacher-led focus group, maths intervention or as part of continuous provision. You can differentiate the activity by changing the number of objects provided, allowing children to explore quantities that match their stage of development.

For an extension, challenge children to predict how many objects each character will receive before they begin sharing. You could also introduce an odd number of objects and encourage children to discuss what happens when the quantity cannot be shared equally.

This practical activity supports children in developing a secure understanding of equal sharing, equal groups and early division, while strengthening counting, comparison, reasoning and mathematical language.