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 would be helpful, if you know of others, to get in touch so that the list is kept up-to-date.
Please note – this blog post is for information and awareness-raising so that you know what is out there to support your outdoor maths work. It is not a recommended reading list or set of resources. Use your professional judgement to decide whether a resource is fit for purpose. I have not included subscription based websites – please do an online search to find these.
Books
1. Messy Maths: A playful, outdoor approach for early years Published in 2017 – suitable for those who work with 3-6yr olds. For personal commentary about the book and hopefully any questions you may have are answered in this blog post. Many of the suggestions apply to all ages but it has been written with the early years as the target age range.
2. Developing Young Children’s Mathematical Learning Outdoors Published in 2017 – suitable for early years. Written by curriculum and maths consultant, Lynda Keith, this books provides a rationale for maths outdoors particularly in the context of the different curricula of the UK and Northern Ireland. It focuses on approaches linked to specific zones within your outdoor space such as bike play or in the mud kitchen.
3. Developing Early Maths Skills Outdoors Published in 2015 – suitable for early years. This book has been less widely-publicised and is part of a series by Marianne Sargent, which focus on literacy, science and maths outside.
4. 50 Fantastic Ideas for Outdoor Maths Published in 2013 – suitable for early years. Kirsteen Beeley is a prolific early years Featherstone author. This is one of several outdoor books she has written.
5. The Little Book of Maths Outdoors Published in 2013 – suitable for early years. I feel the title is slightly misleading. Terry Gould has provided lots of ideas for games that can happen outside to reinforce maths but it’s not a comprehensive book. The illustrations are lovely and generally the feedback on Amazon UK is positive.
6. Maths Outdoors Published in 2005 – suitable for early years. This book was written in 2005 by Carole Skinner and for many years it was the core book to read. Hopefully in due course an updated version will be written.
7. Maths Outside the Classroom Published in 2011 – suitable for all primary. This book is written by the Devonshire Maths team and has over 50 outdoor activities. It’s got some good ideas.
8. Mathematics in the School Grounds Published in 1993 – suitable for all primary. This is a really dated book but in many ways the first one published about using maths outside. There’s lots of sensible advice and information and it would be brilliant if the publishers could do a 2nd edition that is up-to-date.
9. Math on the Move – Engaging students in whole body learning Published in 2016 – suitable for all primary, particularly upper. This book is not intended as an outdoor maths book but the concept works well in the playground. Malke Rosenfeld, developed the approach based upon her professional dance career. She has an excellent website, Math in Your Feet, where you can view videos.
10. Go Teach Outdoors – KS1 and Go Teach Outdoors – KS2 Published 2017. These books provide a set of lessons in maths and English at each level.
11. National Curriculum Outdoors Series. This is a set of books covering KS1 and then Y3, Y4, Y5 and Y6. Each contains a series of lessons within a subject, including maths. A useful starting point for getting outside as a class teacher.
12. Wild Math series by Rachel Tidd. This series of books is aimed at the US Homeschooling movement but will be of use and value to a wider audience. A book for each grade level from Kindergarten through to Grade 5.
Downloads and websites
13. The Smart Happy Project A lovely website dedicated to maths and nature for children. Enjoy. Be inspired.
14. Learning through Landscapes maths downloads Published as and when, suitable for many age ranges from early years to early secondary. For many years, this national UK school grounds charity have produced lesson plans and ideas to help you with maths outside. Most are free to download, but some require you to be a member.
15. Natural Resources Wales – Maths and Numeracy Games and Activities download.
16. Wild About Learning – An Outdoor Literacy and Numeracy Pack for Years 1-6. Clear photos and illustrations and a range of suggested activities for each year group. Free to download, 90 pages (yay!)
17. Wildtime Learning – Free collection of resources, many very simple and doable in a range of subjects. Use the filter to find the maths suggestions.
18. NRich outdoor maths – a small selection of suggestions but worth a look.
19. Learning Outdoors in East Ayrshire have a numeracy and maths at school page with suggestions.
20. Math in the Playground with Urban Math Trails. Six free pdfs to download for K-G5. Based upon installed playground equipment. May give some ideas for creating your own challenges.
21. Urban Math Trails – a website and blog focusing on maths in the built environment – this does include nature.
22. 50 Outdoor Number Activities on a Budget. An early years self-published book by Martin Williams
23. STEM Learning – Maths outside the classroom. Range of downloads.
Commercial packs
24. The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom has maths packs available at all key stages. Most contain 6 lesson plans and cost £22 .
25. The Thinking Child 100+ Ideas for Outdoor numeracy – Some free downloads but mostly have a charge to download.
26. Tagtiv8 is a company specialising in maths and literacy active games. Some of the material should be free to download.
27. Math in your Feet – Malke Rosenfeld. The focus is on indoors but this is easily adapted to being outside. Absolutely inspiring and engaging.
28. Outdoor Maths Problem Solving Cards Produced by TTS there is one pack per primary stage including Foundation. Each pack has 50 activities.
Videos
29. Messy Outdoor Maths – Blush – I’m caught on camera 🙂 – this is an example of my maths workshops. This is a primary aged one.
30. Margaret Travers Outdoor Maths – An example of her training day – various good points made.
31. Grounds for Learning – Outdoor maths learning in local greenspace. Talking about personal impact – a teacher’s view from the Dundee Outdoor Numeracy Project.
32. Check out YouTube for lots of PE-based maths ideas too.
33. Learning and Teaching Scotland have this fab outdoor maths webinar.
34. Taking Maths Outdoors – A series of short video clips covering different foci by Deborah Lambert.
35. Karen Wilding – EY Maths has some outdoor videos in her collection such as this one.
36. The Middleton Park Primary videos are useful in that they show how working collaboratively between classes can be an effective approach to raising attainment.
I teach maths to Year 6-8, I would love to take more of my lessons outside but when I look for outdoor maths resourses they are nearly always for Early Years or Key Stage 1. Where would you suggest I look for resources and ideas for teaching maths to 10-13 year olds outdoors?
Hello Charlie – I think it is interesting that in recent years there’s been a plethora of EY and KS1 activity. When I began working outside decades ago, it was the youngest children who missed out! A good place to ask is on the Outdoor Maths FB group https://www.facebook.com/groups/outdoormathsisfun Also have a look at the Y6 outdoor learning book from Deborah Lambert – it’s generic to all subject but even a peek at the list of lessons in maths for Y6 may help. This webinar – go in halfway through also has suggestions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyzhJn_M6DU Look at East Ayrshire Learning Outside pages – they have stuff specific to older groups too. Finally check out the Outdoor Learning Store videos – mine has an approach that works with older children – start 15 mins into the webinar https://outdoorlearningstore.com/recordings/ and there’s an outdoor maths one given by 2 Canadian teachers