Team Piper: Step 6: Composition of 1, 2 and 3

Team Piper have been busy mathematicians today as we explored how numbers can be made in different ways!

We began by learning about the composition of numbers 1, 2 and 3. Using colourful double-sided counters, we shook and dropped them to see what we could make — “2 red and 1 blue makes 3 altogether!” The children were brilliant at spotting that there’s more than one way to make a number, using real maths talk like “1 and 2 make 3” and “3 can be made in lots of different ways!” 

You can explore how numbers are made using everyday objects!
🧮 Use buttons, pasta, or cereal pieces to show different ways to make 1, 2 and 3.
👉 “I can see 2 and 1 — that makes 3!”
You could even draw the combinations or take turns shaking and dropping small items like coins or counters to see what you get.