Paper clips can be very useful when exploring numbers. This simple activity focuses on counting, colour recognition, fine motor skills and phonics all in one.

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One to one correspondence involves being able to understand that numbers correspond to specific quantities.

For this activity:

1. Download and print number cards provided.
2. Choose the numbers you would like to focus on.
3. Grab a handful of paperclips – preferably multi-coloured.
4. Children can count out the number of paper clips to match each number card.
5. Thread the paper clips together into a chain and clip them onto the relevant number card. Threading the paper clips together can be tricky but it is a great way to practise fine motor skills.
6. If you want to include colours (and you have multi-coloured paperclips), assign a specific colour to each number using the first letter of the colour.
7. If you want to involve phonics in this activity, identify the initial sound for each colour and find the alphabet card that matches.