Subitising is a crucial early maths skill, helping young children to recognise quantities without counting individually.
This set of 1-10 subitising cards is a versatile resource. It’s perfect for introducing and strengthening this skill in a fun, hands-on way in Early Years. The cards display a range of representations for each number:
- counting on fingers
- arrays
- tally marks
- dice faces
- numerals
- familiar items like pencils
Each format offers children a different visual perspective, supporting their understanding of quantity and helping them make connections between numbers and real-world objects.
Active subitising learning
Using these cards in the classroom encourages active learning. You might incorporate them into circle time by flashing a card briefly and asking children to say or show the number they’ve seen, developing quick recognition.
Alternatively, set up small group activities where children match different representations of the same number – for instance, pairing a tally mark card with its corresponding numeral. This builds confidence with numbers and supports a deeper understanding of quantity.
The cards can also be used for counting activities, where children begin to understand addition and subtraction through ‘counting on’ and ‘counting back’.
For instance, using two cards together helps children see that 3 pencils and 2 pencils make 5.
These subitising cards are also fantastic for games – from number recognition bingo to creating memory pairs.
With flexibility to adapt across different learning activities, they are a helpful and engaging way to build foundational number skills in early years.
Primary Maths Hub was founded in 2022 by Sarah Farrell and Andrew Jennings and offers high-quality maths resources. Follow on X at @PrimaryMathsHub.
