Loose parts: What does this mean?

An inspiring resource for learning numeracy

Ideas for adding and using loose parts for learning

Numeracy Focus: Developing number sense

Loose parts are natural or synthetic objects that engage children’s creativity and inventiveness.

Loose parts develop pre-number and number skills through children classifying, sorting, arranging, counting, constructing, experimenting and inventing.

This resource offers ideas for using loose parts and the types of loose parts to incorporate into young children’s play.

Stage: Birth to Level 2

This resource supports:

Integrated teaching and learning approach

  • Guided Play and Learning
  • Child-led Learning

HITS

  • Multiple exposures

VEYLDF Practice Principles

  • Integrated teaching and learning approaches

VEYLDF Learning Outcomes

  • Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners. Children transfer and adapt what they have learnt from one context to another
  • Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators. Children interact verbally and non-verbally with others for a range of purposes

Cross-curricular

  • Science

Audience

  • Early childhood practitioners

Teaching and Learning Cycle:

  • Act/Do

Sourced from:

Reflective Prompt

How do loose parts resources support children to explore number sense?

How might you use loose parts to foster other number focus areas?

Reflective Prompt

How do loose parts resources support children to explore number sense?

How might you use loose parts to foster other number focus areas?