Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Teddy Bears' Picnic Plates: Free Printable Worksheet for Ages 2 to 4
- ForAges 2 to 4
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Teddy Bears' Picnic Plates is a free printable maths worksheet for Ages 2 to 4, in Early Years. Four teddies called Bo, Moss, Pip and Fern each have a plate. Children draw one cake, one apple and one cup for each teddy. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas, a stretch idea and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children meet four plates, one each for Bo, Moss, Pip and Fern. Their job is to draw one cake, one apple and one cup for every teddy, so that the picnic is fair. They draw one item at a time, then point and count each plate with a grown up. The sheet has lines for writing and boxes for drawing or notes.
- Bo's plate
- Moss's plate
- Pip's plate
- Fern's plate
Why a teddy bears' picnic?
The Teddy Bears' Picnic is a well known children's song, and a picnic with soft toys is a favourite pretend game in many homes. Young children already know the idea. Teddies sit together, someone brings the food and everyone gets a turn. That familiar play gives a simple reason to count, share and check, without any pressure to get things right.
Matching one object to one other is called one to one correspondence. It is one of the first ideas behind counting. Before children can count reliably, they need to touch or point at each thing once, and only once. Sharing food among teddies is a natural way to practise this. Each plate gets its own food, and children can see at a glance whether the sharing is fair.
If you use small objects with children under 3, stay close and choose pieces too big to swallow. If you set up a picnic with real snacks, check for allergies first and let an adult prepare and hand out the food.
Skills and curriculum link
- One to one matching
- Counting to 4
- Fair sharing
- Comparing amounts
- Pencil control
- Talking about maths
Ideas to help you support your child
- Touch and sayYoung children count best when they touch each thing as they say a number. Let your child point at each plate, one at a time, and say the number words slowly.
- Same for everyoneTalk about what fair means. Ask, "Does every teddy have the same?" Children learn that sharing fairly means nobody is left out and nobody gets extra.
- Use the namesSay each teddy's name as your child draws. A story about Bo or Fern makes the counting feel like play, and it helps children remember whose plate they are on.
- Look back togetherWhen the drawing is done, look at each plate and compare. Ask what you notice. Children often spot for themselves when something is missing.
Key words
- MatchTo put one thing with one other thing, such as one cup with one teddy.
- EachEvery one of the teddies, thought about one at a time.
- FairWhen everyone gets the same amount.
- CountTo say the numbers in order, one for each thing you point at.
- SameNot different. Two plates with the same food look alike.
- EnoughAs many as you need, with nobody left out.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read the teddy tale aloud. Say each teddy's name and point to their plate.
- Let your child draw one item at a time. Then point to each plate together and count.
- Talk about each choice as you go. Ask, "Who has a cake? Who still needs one?" Check against page 2 at the end.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Start with real toy teddies and small objects. Put one item by each teddy, then draw it. Do one kind of food at a time. Point to each plate as you say the number, and let your child hold the pencil at their own pace.
To stretch confident children
Ask what changes if a fifth teddy arrives. How many more cakes, apples and cups would be needed? Your child can draw a fifth plate on paper, then count again. For more challenge, ask them to name a new teddy and explain what it needs.
Make it a game
Set a teddy picnic with toy plates and toy food. Line up the teddies. Let your child hand out one item to each guest, saying each teddy's name. Then ask, does anyone have none? Does anyone have two? Swap toy food for real snacks only after checking for allergies.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child draws lots of cakes on one plate and leaves the others empty.
Try thisSay, "Bo has a cake. Who is next?" Move a finger to the next plate before the next drawing.
Watch forA child counts one plate twice or misses one out.
Try thisTouch each plate once as you count. Cover counted plates with a hand or a piece of paper so only new ones are left.
Watch forA child draws one kind of food for every teddy and then stops.
Try thisAsk, "What else does each teddy need?" Work on one food at a time, then look back over each plate together.
Talk about it
- Which teddy would you like to meet? What do they like to eat at a picnic?
- Can you point to each plate and say a number as you touch it?
- Does every teddy have the same? How can you tell?
- What would we do if a teddy had no cup?
- Where would you set up a real picnic for your teddies?
- Which part did you like drawing best?
Take it off the page
Playdough picnic
Make playdough cakes, apples and cups. Share them onto paper plates so each soft toy gets one of each. Count the plates together.
Cups and spoons
Set out plastic cups and spoons. Put one spoon in each cup and ask your child whether any cup is left without one.
Teddy line up
Line up soft toys in a row. Give each one a paper name label, then touch each toy and count along the line.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go and let them lead. Keep it short and stop while it is still fun. If they lose interest, bring out the real teddies and finish with play. Praise their effort and their thinking.
Teachers
Use it as a table activity, a starter in a teddy or picnic topic, or a calm task for early finishers. Listen to children count and talk about sharing as they draw. It supports the number strand of Early Years maths through short, focused practice.
Home educators
Pair it with a real teddy picnic, a story about teddies and everyday sharing, such as handing out spoons at tea time. It is free to print again for brothers and sisters, or to revisit a few weeks later.
Where this fits in early maths
Before this sheet, children enjoy sorting objects, saying number words in order and sharing things out in play. Matching one thing to one other is a first step towards counting a set of objects with understanding.
After this, children can count larger groups of objects, compare which group has more or fewer, and begin to join groups together or share them out. Number recognition and early adding grow from the same ideas of matching and counting.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Teddy Bears' Picnic Plates for?
It is written for Ages 2 to 4, in Early Years. Younger children may need a grown up to help with the pencil, and older ones can try the stretch idea on page 2.
- What will children practise?
Children practise one to one matching by sharing out objects fairly. They also count to 4, compare plates and use a simple story to talk about maths.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself.
- What if my child finds it hard?
Use real toy teddies and small objects first. Place one item by each teddy, then draw it. Work on one kind of food at a time, and stop if your child tires.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Children draw, point, count and talk, which keeps them active.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, table activity, early finisher task or homework. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has help and stretch ideas for mixed groups.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add colour with crayons if they like, but it is not needed.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.