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The popcorn and strawberry resource is used to promote the learning and understanding of counting. It can also promote the learning of quantity to numbers, adding and subtracting, more and less and sorting. For this assignment I will be focusing on how this resource supports children's mathematical development in counting.

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To use the resource the children are encouraged to count out the popcorn or strawberries and placing them into the correct numbered pot.
Here is an example of a child identifying he needs five popcorn for the numbered five pot, then counting as he places the popcorn in the pot.

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From appendix 2, you can see how the children engaged with this resource and how the children used counting and other mathematical concepts as they played.
However there are limitations within this resource. The fact that it only goes to number 5 can be seen as a limitation especially as we do teach the children higher numbers. This resource could potentially be too easy for the children who are confident with numbers and are learning the higher numbers.
To know how many popcorn's or strawberries to count to put in the bowl, the children need to recognise the number. If a child does not recognise the number they may have difficult knowing how many to count.

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Department for Education (2012) Department matters in the Early Years foundation stage. London:Early Education

Knaus, M., Featherstone, S. (2015) Maths is all around you.  London: Bloomsbury publishing PlcKnaus, M., Featherstone, S. (2015) Maths is all around you.  London: Bloomsbury publishing Plc..

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The benefits of this resource is that it is a physical interaction. The children need to physically put the items in the bowls as they count which helps build their understanding on the concept on counting and how counting can represent an object. It also teaches the children about number quantity.

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Another positive about this resource is the fact that it does not have an area and can be used around the room or in any mathematical activity. Children love to play and having this resource allows the children to take this into the home corner which is a huge benefit. This is because when the children are playing they are more likely to use the number language or counting out in their play thus promoting mathematics in their play.

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Dienes (1967) quoted in Knaus and Featherstone (2015, p.7) showed how she valued the importance of materials in teaching mathematics with free play a focus. This resource can be seen to support this theory as it can be used in the children's free play and be taken to any area of the room to be used. Having food related to this resource is perfect for the children to use in the home-corner. This encourages the children to use mathematical language and counting in their play.

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The resource can be seen to support the mathematical curriculum in The Department for Education (2012). Below is the mathematical links from the Department of Educations (2012). The resource pots are numbered which promotes and encourage children to recognise the numerals. The children count the objects as they place them in the bowls which can be seen to link with the count up to three and four objects link.
Appendix 2 showed children engaging with the resource. The language the children used can be seen to meet the curriculum links.