My Teeth's Favourite Things Graph
Level 3 promotes critical thinking and personal responsibility. 'My Teeth's Favourite Things Graph' strengthens reasoning about health and safety decisions.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Health, Safety and Hygiene
- Learning area: Numeracy
- Level: EYFS Reception
Objectives
- Analyse health decisions
- Justify reasoning
- Extend with writing or data tracking
Instructions
Materials
- Large poster board or chart paper with a pre-drawn grid.
- Laminated pictures of healthy foods (apple, carrot, cheese) and sugary foods (candy, soda, cake).
- Adhesive labels or sticky notes for each child.
- Dry-erase markers in two distinct colours.
- A basket for sorting images.
Learning Objectives
- Collect and organise data by categorizing food items into healthy or sugary groups.
- Construct a simple bar graph by placing labels in corresponding columns.
- Compare quantities by identifying which category has more, less, or an equal amount.
- Use mathematical vocabulary such as total, column, and count to describe the graph.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Gather the children in a circle and display the basket of food images.
2. Discuss which foods help keep teeth strong and which foods might cause cavities.
3. Invite children to take turns picking an image from the basket and identifying the food.
4. Ask the child to decide if the food is a favourite for healthy teeth or a food to eat only sometimes.
5. Have the child place their sticky note or label in the corresponding column on the graph.
6. Continue until all images are placed and the graph is complete.
7. Count the items in each column aloud as a group to ensure accuracy.
8. Ask the children to identify which column is taller and which is shorter.
9. Write the final numerical total at the bottom of each column using a dry-erase marker.
10. Facilitate a brief discussion about why the healthy teeth column has more items.
Educator Tip
To differentiate for advanced learners, ask them to predict which column will be larger before the activity begins. If a child struggles with the concept of more or less, use physical counters to match the number of items in each column side by side to provide a concrete visual comparison.
Assessment
- Observe if the child correctly categorizes the food items based on dental health.
- Note the child's ability to accurately count the items within each graph column.
- Evaluate the child's response when asked to compare the quantities of the two categories.
Educator tip
Use simple rubric; insist on justification; allow multiple correct solutions; support with exemplars/word banks.
Assessment
Assess against Early Learning Goals (ELGs). Document evidence of 'expected' or 'exceeding' descriptors. Note: independent application of skills, ability to explain reasoning, and capacity to build on prior learning. Rubric: reasoning, clarity, independence.