BTU overview
Faculty 4
Chair of Social work Prof. Dr. Daniela Cornelia Stix

Number garden

In the Number Garden, the use of numbers is funded in a playful way - in the great outdoors! The focus is on holistic learning using all the senses and is linked to other areas of application (nature, technology, art), whereby responsibility for nature and adherence to rules are practised in particular. Social learning, as well as independent discovery, storytelling and imagination, are stimulated with the help of the exercise.

Number of participants

Minimum: 6
Optimum: 11-12
Maximum: 14

Age recommendation

The exercise is ideal for children aged 4 and over.

Duration

approx. 30 minutes

Place

Outside, with a large open area

Structure and sequence

A number garden essentially consists of four elements:

  1. Number houses: The number houses are geometric shapes that visualise a number from 0 to 10. It is designed so that the children can familiarise themselves with the numbers and their properties. The fixed locations of the numbers in the number house create numerous opportunities to recognise relationships between the numbers thanks to the clear, spatial arrangement.
  2. Number path: The path consists of a sequence of number plates. These are marked from 1 to 20 and symbolise the linear sequence and 'neighbourhood' of numbers.
  3. Materials: chestnuts, tennis balls, cuddly toys, plants, building blocks, dice, number cards with numbers, ...
  4. Storytellingarea: The storytelling area serves as a central meeting point. It is laid out in a circle and offers the opportunity to sit down and linger. It provides an opportunity to talk or play together, where things can be placed and experimented with.

In the number houses and on the number path, sorting processes according to shape, colour, size, weight, number, number assignments through to the presentation and solution of the first arithmetic problems are developed in a playful way. In the number house, each of the numbers one to ten has its own flat, which the children furnish more and more richly with "furniture". On the number path, the numbers are approached "step by step".