Sep 15, 2023 | Maths Outdoors
Here are over 15 experiences which can help your class learn about compass directions in practical ways linked to real life learning and environmental considerations. I hope the suggestions are of use, saving you time and helping you to enjoy working outside with your...
Apr 29, 2023 | Maths Outdoors
What do all these stick pictures have in common? Yes, they are all made from sticks….anything else you notice? The sticks have been cut to specific lengths? Correct: 10cm, 25cm, 50cm can be seen in all these photos. When you add up the total length of the sticks...
Mar 30, 2023 | Early Years Outdoors, Maths Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning
At the International Skogsmulle Symposium in Japan there was an afternoon of playing games and undertaking practical activities such as making things with bamboo. This very simple memory game was featured and this is how it is played… Firstly you prepare your...
Mar 20, 2023 | Early Years Outdoors, Maths Outdoors
Ten frames have has a surge in popularity in recent years as greater awareness grows about the need for children to have time exploring maths concepts using concrete materials. Thinking, reasoning and realising the patterns that objects make which can be linked to our...
Mar 15, 2023 | Maths Outdoors
Previously I’ve blogged about investigating reflections which is one way into symmetry and can be linked to scientific and artistic explorations. Back in the outdoor space, more specific experiences can be provided for young children based upon their own...
Mar 14, 2023 | Art & Music Outdoors, Maths Outdoors, Science Outdoors
Here in Scotland, our younger children are expected to have fun creating a range of symmetrical pictures and patterns using a range of media. Immediately the outdoor possibilities of such experiences run riot in my mind where the explorations can be bigger, better and...
Mar 5, 2023 | Maths Outdoors
This is a shared blog post between myself and Judy Duncan, a teacher at Greenbrae Primary school who organised a whole session of maths outside for the whole school to participate in, many years ago. Her class were instrumental in the design of the Mud Pi Day logo...
Feb 21, 2023 | Maths Outdoors
Creating rules to follow in maths provides investigations which can be surprisingly absorbing. In this blog post, aimed at primary-aged children, we begin with ensuring we have three piles of objects. Outside this is easy to gather and can be part of the initial work:...
Feb 20, 2023 | Early Years Outdoors, Maths Outdoors, Science Outdoors, Technologies
When you write a book, one of the interesting challenges is deciding what needs to be included and what should be omitted. It’s never an easy task. One concept that I felt I didn’t do justice to in Messy Maths, was that of rotation. Thus I thought it would be good to...
Jan 13, 2023 | Maths Outdoors
On a number of occasions in the Outdoor Maths in Primary and Early Years Facebook group, queries have been made about books and resources that exist about outdoor maths. Thus it seemed to make good sense to put these into a blog post for anyone to access. It...
Dec 14, 2022 | Maths Outdoors
I am an eternal optimist and thus always hope that every winter we will get plenty of snow. It’s so versatile. There’s so many mathematical possibilities linked to snow. So have this blog post tucked away for seizing the moment when the soft stuff falls....
Nov 23, 2022 | Literacy Outdoors, Maths Outdoors
Happy Fibonacci Day (November 23rd – 11 23) Fibonacci lived from 1180-1250. He was the son of an Italian merchant. He developed a passion for numbers and discovered the following sequence that can be observed in leaf arrangements, flower segments, pine cones,...
Nov 18, 2022 | Maths Outdoors
If you look at the photo above, you can see it has been valued at 80. Below, the abstract art is worth 180 – please note the pile of shells above the 180 is not part of the picture. Can you work out the value of the unicorn mermaid below… Tracy...
Nov 17, 2022 | Early Years Outdoors, Maths Outdoors, Technologies
Do you have an old worn out tarp tucked away in a cupboard or shed, collecting dust and guilt? I never liked to throw away a tarp as it’s a sheet of plastic and will take a long time to rot in a landfill site. When I was writing the draft of my Messy Maths book,...
Nov 16, 2022 | Maths Outdoors, Technologies
The mathematical potential of a stick never ceases to amaze me. Back in 2014, I had a bright idea which is remarkably simple and came about owing to overhearing someone mention colour coding. You get some sticks. You paint the ends different colours. You play with...
Nov 15, 2022 | Developing School Grounds & Outdoor Spaces, Maths Outdoors, Technologies
Several years ago, I came across this photo on the Playscapes blog which blew my mind. It had so much to it, that I’m still trying to take stock of its potential, fun and relevance to schools everywhere. It is the work of Simon and Tom Bloor. It can be found at...
Nov 14, 2022 | Early Years Outdoors, Maths Outdoors
Many years ago, I was invited to work at Glendale School in Glasgow. We were having a particular focus on maths outdoors. The whole point of maths outside is that it is real and relies on practical activities. Often these can be quite revealing in terms of what...
Nov 10, 2022 | Maths Outdoors, RME Outdoors, Technologies
The run-up to the end of this term is usually a hectic event. In between the parties and performances, there’s lots going on. It also means that using the festive opportunities to recap and review work undertaken earlier can be one way of working a little...
Nov 2, 2022 | Maths Outdoors
One key reason for writing this blog and keeping it going through thick and thin is to provide teachers and early years educators with springboards for their own teaching practice outside. The best things happen when someone reads my blog and then goes on to...
Nov 1, 2022 | Early Years Outdoors, Maths Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning, Science Outdoors
This blog post is a guest post by Justina Danišová, who is an experienced environmental educator and home partner in the Czech Republic. She has her own website and is influential across her country in supporting educators to develop learning and play opportunities....
