Maths Week Scotland 10th – 18th September

September 9, 2018 Amy Bain

All classes will have fun with maths and parents are encouraged to talk about how they use maths at home and at work. You could do maths in the park or playground using ideas from the wonderful Juliet Robertson at Creative Star – https://creativestarlearning.co.uk/c/maths-outdoors/

Symmetry investigations

Nature Symmetry Circles

Combining maths with art on a wet weather day to explore and create symmetrical patterns from nature

Investigating Symmetry Outdoors Using Photo Booth

Great for permanently capturing symmetrical objects with along one axis.

Outdoor Reflections

Where symmetry begins

Reflections into Symmetry

Moving onto to play based experiences in the outdoor space or school grounds

Make a Kite

It’s all about symmetry, not of pattern but of balance!

Kaleidoscope Images and Symmetry

Exploring the mathematical art of kaleidoscopic symmetry

Stick insect symmetry

Stick insects – made from sticks. Simple and absorbing challenge for children that can be easily differentiated.

Shape explorations

An Outdoor Shape Activity with Sticks

Developing the language of shape!

Stick Logic

Creating triangles from sticks

Creating 3D Shapes from Sticks

And making dens in the process!

The Mathematics of Festive Crafts

An ‘crafty’ way of revising key maths concepts during the festive season

Must a triangle always have straight sides?

A geometric investigation sparked by flower beds

Masking Tape Shape Explorations

An nature-art approach to learning about and exploring the properties of 2D shapes. Suitable for all ages.

Give your old tarp a maths makeover

Brilliantly simple approach to exploring properties of 2D shapes especially if you have an old tarp that could be re-used. Suitable for all ages.

2D shape art with leaves

A creative blend of art, maths and science using the colour and shape of leaves as a starting point

Exploring Rotation Outside

A new twist, turn and spin on a much-loved maths concept

Angles outside

Investigating right angles with sticks

A super simple activity. Try it and see!

Right angles

Taking a new angle on an old subject

Angles and Numerals

A stick challenge linking numbers to angles, particularly right, acute and obtuse angles

Angles in Nature

An interesting investigation in to angles outside

Playground markings

Open-ended Playground Markings

Explore shape, position and movement in different ways through designer playground markings

Original Playground Markings

Some innovative examples of mathematical design from staff and children at one primary school.

Pattern work

Leaf Logic

A little thinking around the attributes of leaves

Scale and Geometric Patterns with Sticks

Infinite possibilities for recurrent patterns

White Line Pebble Maths

The brilliant dance of potential when nature is used to explore maths and art concepts. Just sit down and play!

Fractals in Nature

Some simple ideas to get you and your children investigating this concept

Fractal Dragons

Build your own from sticks

The Macquarie Playground Spiral

An interesting mathematical feature within a public playground

Rainy Day Rubbings

Exploring pattern outside on very wet days

The Fibonacci Sequence and Nature

A wee cross-curricular outdoor maths project

An Outdoor Memory Game

A good way to introduce or revise the concept of pairs

Nature pyramid patterns

Same or different? A pattern-based exploration of probability

Number activities

Celebrating 100 Days at School

10 outdoor maths activities which focus on the number 100.

20 Something Maths Pictures

Using natural materials to practise cooperatively counting 20 objects

Leaf Multiplication

Learn tables naturally with leaves

Algebraic Equations

Some thinking around using objects to represent numerical values

Number Bonds with Sticks

Lets get the mental maths going with stick tapping fun!

Multiplication Pebbles

A collection of stones to help children learn their times tables.

The Black Spot – Pirate Maths Outdoors

Shiver me timbers! A landlubbing activity looking at sycamore leaves for work on numbers

What’s your picture worth?

A simple multiplication picture activity that gets children thinking algebraically.

Using Sticks to Understand Fractions

Making a fraction wall from sticks

Fractions, Decimals and Percentages Outdoor Activities

Using sticks again to challenge thinking

Leaf Fraction Walls

How to use leaves to help children learn about fractions

The stripy stick subitising challenge

Developing subitising skills and conservation of number through white stripy sticks!

The joy of a pocket-sized cotton ten frame

How a little foldable cloth ten frame can aid outdoor investigations within and beyond number work.

Stick Pic Problems

The brilliance of sticks cut to specific lengths for creating interesting addition-based problem-solving pictures. Wowser!

Can I go on the computer, Mum?

Outdoor maths keeps family relationships going… lots of problem solving and game changing.

Measurement

Time Outside

Outdoor activities to help develop a concept of time

Measuring the Size of Sticks

Incredibly simple activity for young children

Measuring Sticks

One big stick for measuring everything and anything!

Making Maths Sticks

Opportunity from coppiced wood to grow my collection of sticks

Stick Stacking Maths Challenge

Problem solving, teamwork and creative ways of measuring the height of stacked sticks

Outdoor Measuring Continues

The sequel to the stick stacking maths challenge – see what the class did next!

The Magic of 1-Metre Rope Snakes

Introducing Sammy the Snake to help your children learn about measurement, fractions, forming numerals and many other aspects of maths. So simple, so yummy…

Making environmental print meaningful at Stramash Outdoor Nurseries

Maths, literacy and health and wellbeing all in one simple sign. A lovely spontaneous project that contributed towards children’s transitions in and out of nursery.