For many years I’ve been experimenting with useful pocket-sized maths resources. Things have come in and gone out again, as I’ve refined, tested and adapted what works. What I’ve been aiming for is a small set of resources which enable me to support children spontaneously with their learning. I also want the resources to be at good value pocket-money prices or free. Below are examples of what I have in my wee pocket maths bag – but tbh I do chop and change!
A bright number set
Working outside, numbers and letters need to be visually clear. Fluorescent backgrounds can help children see the symbols more carefully. I use permanent marker pen for the numbers so they do not bleed and it saves me needing to laminate them.
The numbers can be moved around as they are always kept in this slide pocket. This allows the resource to be folded up nice and small. On the reverse I have written the number names and the tens frame layout. This means children see pictorial representations of the numbers too.
Various long bits
This includes:
- Sammy the One-metre Rope Snake. See this blog post for why Sammy is so useful.
- His brother, Sid the Stripy Rope Snake progresses measuring into number work and rounding up and down.
- A one-metre measuring tape. This one is from Cosy and it’s very plain with only centimetres marked. It is a useful vertical number line as well as a measuring tool.
- A measuring tape with millimetres on one side and inches on the other. This helps older children convert between centimetres, metres and millimetres and also between imperial and metric measuring systems.
Vocabulary sheets
This is more a reminder for me about what maths vocabulary children need to know. The collection below is my old one for the early level. I’ve since revised this substantially after writing Messy Maths – the revised lists are in each chapter. For alternatives to laminating resources, please look at this blog post.
Other useful bits
- A pocket-sized cotton tens frame. Each square is 10x10cm which is big enough to fit interesting found objects. It also means that the traditional base ten sets can fit inside each square. This means the sheet can be used for place value representations up to 99999. Â Enjoy this blog post about its early years uses.
- A one-minute sand timer: useful for timing children, events and happenings outside
- A mini tens frame board – it’s the red object in the photo. Good for tiny tens frame collections and also for making prints in sand and mud.
- A set of small 3D objects. The faces provide examples of 2D shapes so both are covered.
- A coin: essential for decision-making and way finding. Read Messy Maths to find out more.
- A pair of dice for impromptu games.
I keep the resources in a little Lomo translucent dry bag as I don’t always have a pocket. This means both children and myself can see what’s inside the bag which is helpful.
Finally, I’d love to know what maths resources you have to hand… and yes I do use fingers and thumbs for counting 🙂
This blog post was originally published in January 2018.
Love this post and those bags are genius. I have £420 to spend on maths resources for parents to borrow and will be investing in lots of your suggestions as well as raiding the local forest for pine cones etc. The bags will be perfect too.
That sounds like a lovely idea! I hope it all goes well.
Anyone else building kits for ks1? Love to swap ideas.
Yes but still experimenting highly… Are you on the Outdoor Maths for Primary and Early Years Facebook group.. this is a good place for this sort of conversation.
I didn’t know it existed…I’m new to maths subject leadership.
It’s only been up and running since last April… and it’s a friendly group 🙂
I’m in south Australia and have just bought (was a bit more than my pocket money 31$aus) a folding pocket compass/sundial from Dragonfly toys and I’m very excited to get it and all the maths possibilities it could provide, I’m also building an ‘Adventure pack’ and have had great successes with the kindy kids already.
Hello Kate – this sounds brilliant – I love the idea of an adventure pack. I do this for writing (adventurous writing kits). Interestingly I’ve been developing a handout specifically on compass skills. So great minds are clearly thinking alike 🙂 Best wishes, Juliet
Hi Juliet – I was a participant in your “I’m a Teacher, Get me Outside!” workshop yesterday at Kortright Centre in York region. I did not consider myself a very strong math teacher, but all the ideas we shared yesterday at the workshop made me feel much more comfortable teaching the subject. I am going to make a math bucket with all the things (Sammy the Snake, etc.) and see how the students use it in their outdoor play. Thank you for the great session, Juliet!
Hello Suzanna – Thanks for your kind feedback. Please do let me know how you get on. Sometimes you may have to model the use of the resources – so keeping Sammy in your pocket for this sort of thing can work really well. Likewise showing children a simple game or two can often spark the imagination in their own play.