In the Garden Bug Counters Set of 72

In the Garden Bug Counters Set of 72 turns early maths into a hands-on garden adventure. Children can gather bees, line up snails, sort colourful spiders and create repeating patterns with a whole collection of miniature garden creatures. The pieces give counting and comparison a physical form: children move one counter at a time, see how groups change and check their ideas by rearranging them.

The set contains 72 counters in six creature shapes and six colours, with a storage tub and activity guide. Designed for children aged 3 years and over, it is a versatile resource for home learning, nursery maths areas and adult-led EYFS activities.

Six Garden Creatures to Discover

The collection includes dragonflies, snails, grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders and bees. There are 12 of each creature shape, giving children enough pieces to make several groups or continue a pattern beyond its first few steps. The colour assortment includes blue, red, orange, yellow, green and purple.

Begin by allowing children to look at and handle a small selection. Invite them to find two that match or explain which creature they would like to choose. The designs can also introduce conversations about real minibeasts, with an adult helping children distinguish the pretend colours from the appearance of creatures they may see outdoors.

Make Counting Visible

Arrange a few counters in a row and touch each one as its number is spoken. This links one spoken number with one physical object. Move the same counters into a circle or a scattered arrangement and count again, discussing whether changing their positions changes the total.

For children ready to explore further, make two groups and compare them. Which group has more? Can the child give each counter in one group a partner from the other? Pairing objects side by side provides a practical way to investigate equal amounts and notice any counters left over.

Sort by Colour, Shape or Your Own Rule

There is more than one way to organise this collection. A child might first gather all the snails, then choose all the yellow counters. Changing the sorting rule encourages close observation: the relevant feature is different even though the pieces have stayed the same.

Adults can extend the activity with a simple challenge, such as finding a creature that belongs in a particular colour group. Invite the child to explain their rule or show where a counter should go. The explanation matters as much as completing the group, because it reveals what the child has noticed.

Patterns, Number Stories and Imaginative Play

Make a short repeating sequence using two colours or two creatures and ask what should come next. Once a child recognises the repeating unit, try a different arrangement or leave a gap for them to fill. The counters can be moved immediately, so an idea can be tested and revised without starting the whole activity again.

Simple garden stories can introduce adding and taking away. Three bees are visiting a flower; another arrives. How many are there now? Use the counters to show the event and let the child check the total. Any flowers, pictures, bowls or number cards used to extend play are supplied separately.

Practical Activity Ideas

• Make a minibeast parade: line up a chosen number of counters and move them one at a time to check the count.
• Fill the garden beds: draw separate garden spaces on your own paper and give each one an equal number of creatures.
• Find the odd one out: place three matching shapes beside a different creature and ask what makes one different. Accept a child's alternative explanation if it fits.
• Build and continue a pattern: start with bee, snail, bee, snail, then invite the child to extend or change the sequence.
• Tell a number story: move creatures into and out of a pretend garden while describing what happens.
• Sort and count at tidy-up time: organise a small selection before returning it to the tub.

Why Choose In the Garden Bug Counters Set of 72?

The combination of creature shapes and colours gives this set several useful sorting possibilities. A generous total of 72 pieces allows activities to grow from a few counters on a table to larger group comparisons, while the familiar garden theme offers a natural route into storytelling and discussion.

For educational buyers, the counters can support carefully planned mathematical questions without prescribing a single lesson. For families, they make quantities easier to see and handle during short, playful activities. The storage tub keeps the collection together between sessions, and the activity guide provides an additional starting point.

Perfect For…

• Children aged 3 years and over exploring counting and sorting.
• Nursery and EYFS maths provision.
• Colour recognition, matching and repeating patterns.
• Small-group number stories and comparisons.
• Garden and minibeast themes at home or in classrooms.

Product Features

• 72 garden-creature counters.
• Six shapes, with 12 counters of each creature.
• Six colours for sorting and pattern activities.
• Small pieces for deliberate picking up and placing.
• Storage tub and activity guide included.
• Reusable resource for mathematical and imaginative play.

Specifications

• Product name: In the Garden Bug Counters Set of 72.
• Brand: Learning Resources.
• Product code: LER3381.
• Quantity: 72 counters.
• Shapes: Dragonfly, snail, grasshopper, caterpillar, spider and bee.
• Colours: Blue, red, orange, yellow, green and purple.
• Counter size: Approximately 3 cm; shapes vary.
• Included: Counters, storage tub and activity guide.
• Recommended age: 3 years and over.

Care and Safety

Small parts: not suitable for children under 3 years. Supervise activities and keep counters away from mouths. Clean according to the supplied instructions, check that all pieces are accounted for after play and store the tub out of reach of younger children.