Place Value within 50 - Numbers to 50 - Planning

The curriculum for Year 1 Spring focuses on enhancing the understanding of place value within 50. In the first week, children are introduced to the concept of representing numbers up to 50. The lesson utilises a variety of resources, including differentiated worksheets, teaching slides, concrete equipment, and ten frames, to support learning. Key vocabulary such as 'group', 'tens', 'ones', 'represent', 'backwards', and 'forwards' is emphasised, and children are encouraged to practice counting in tens. Building on their knowledge of numbers to 20, students explore grouping in tens and reinforce the concept that one ten equals ten ones. They engage in counting forwards and backwards within 50, using number tracks to assist them, especially when crossing tens boundaries and with teen numbers. Partner work and practical activities encourage discussion and the use of full sentences to explain their reasoning.

The lesson progresses with a series of activities that help children visualise and count objects, such as cakes on a plate, both in tens and ones. They are taught to use ten frames to simplify counting and to recognise the pattern of counting forwards and backwards. The plenary includes a reflective 'Give me five' exercise, where students consider what they've learned, the skills they've used, and any challenges they faced. They also reflect on the resources that aided their learning and make a 'pinkie promise' to remember key aspects of the lesson. As children develop their skills, differentiated activities cater to those working towards expected levels and those ready for greater depth, with the latter group demonstrating a secure understanding of counting to 50 and determining the number of steps needed to reach a given number without the aid of a number track.