Reception sharing and grouping equally resources – White Rose aligned

In Summer Block 4: Sharing and Grouping Equally, pupils develop a deeper understanding of early division concepts through practical, hands-on experiences. This unit introduces key mathematical ideas, such as sharing and grouping, and builds towards recognising patterns within numbers, including odd and even numbers and doubles. Through engaging activities and real-life contexts, pupils gain a solid foundation in understanding how numbers can be distributed equally.

The first part of this block focuses on sharing objects between groups, helping pupils understand the concept of fairness and equal distribution. They explore what happens when objects are shared into different numbers of groups and begin to develop reasoning skills by discussing whether a group has been shared fairly. By physically sharing real objects, such as counters, cubes, or everyday items, pupils can see and experience equal and unequal sharing in a meaningful way.

Grouping is then introduced as another way of organising numbers. While sharing focuses on distributing objects one by one into groups, grouping encourages pupils to count in equal sets. For example, they may be given a number of objects and asked to put them into groups of two, three, or four. This builds their early multiplication and division skills, helping them to recognise patterns in number organisation. The practical nature of this learning ensures pupils can see the difference between sharing and grouping and understand when to apply each method.

In the next stage, pupils use their understanding of sharing to determine whether a number is odd or even. They explore what happens when they try to share a number equally between two groups, noticing that some numbers can be split exactly while others always leave one left over. This hands-on approach gives pupils a meaningful way to identify odd and even numbers, reinforcing key number concepts in an accessible way.

Building on this, pupils explore doubles as another important numerical pattern. They learn that a double is when two equal groups are combined to make a total and begin to recall simple doubles facts. Pupils are encouraged to find doubles using physical objects before progressing to visual representations and verbal recall. By making connections between doubling and their previous work on number bonds, they develop a secure understanding of how numbers can be combined and partitioned in different ways.

Throughout this unit, pupils develop their ability to compare quantities in different contexts, recognising when one group is greater than, less than, or the same as another. They explore patterns within numbers, including how numbers can be shared equally, grouped in different ways, and doubled. These skills provide a strong foundation for future learning in multiplication and division, setting the stage for more formal methods as they move through school.

This unit aligns with the White Rose Maths progression, ensuring that pupils develop mathematical fluency through practical activities and structured small steps. By the end of this block, pupils will have a deeper understanding of how numbers can be organised, shared, and grouped, helping them to develop confidence in working with numbers beyond counting.