Messy Maths: A playful, outdoor approach for early years

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In September 2019, the early years inspection framework changed, putting an added emphasis on the Intent, Implementation and Impact (3 I’s) of all planned activities that early years practitioners provide in their settings. Wildtime Learning– Free collection of resources, many very simple and doable in a range of subjects. Use the filter to find the maths suggestions.

Messy Maths Outdoors - Creative STAR Learning Messy Maths Outdoors - Creative STAR Learning

If you are fortunate enough to attend one of Juliet's training courses you are in for a magical moment filled with "oo" and "ah's". Golden nugget moments begin formulating, which remains a constant throughout the entire session and beyond, as the sharing of educational knowledge and experience is abundant from Juliet, and is shared in the most unselfish way, that I have only really encountered a hand full of times in my life. The possibilities of your new knowledge become endless, and the concern of what next? in the bid to offer Children better, and more fascinating educational experiences, almost melts away, with each golden nugget that is shared by this wonderfully pioneering individual (Juliet Robertson).Robertson states that her professional understanding of how to teach maths has changed completely since working with natural materials outside (natural and man made outside environments- this isn’t a nature book – it is a maths book). In the past she might have still pinned up number signs or shapes to continue in the belief of doing it ‘properly’. Its a fair statement. We have become so used to thinking that maths is only studied if we are dealing with numbers as quantities or recognisable maths symbols. Rooted in Play The Waldorf philosophy is of nurturing the child as a whole; the head, the hands and the heart. Also about respecting the growth of the child. Concepts are understood in different ways at different stages of childhood. 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. Garnetbank Primaryschool in Glasgow has been on a journey of maths improvement, supporting all of our children to understand maths through concrete materials, pictorial representation and moving into the abstract. We understand the power of learning through play and sought practical ideas to bring maths to life and get children outdoors. Our aims are to enable our children to connect their learning in the classroom to the world beyond, apply skills in new situations and to see that everyone needs maths in learning, life and work.

Maths | Nessy Maths | Nessy

Children need time to learn each game by just enjoying the experience of playing it. Older children can assist younger ones. Hold a games session so that parents and carers can learn different games too. Their accurate use and frequency of mathematical terms especially those related to quantity and measurement Explore the size of the circle made when children hold hands, stretch out and touch each other’s fingertips or huddle together shoulder-to-shoulder. Discuss and explore how the size could be measured. This may include:

The book is written to encourage teachers to take children's learning outside. We often see in inspection reports recommendations that settings "(further) develop the use of the garden area to facilitate those children that prefer to take their learning outside. "Messy Maths will really support teachers to recognise and plan for the distinct Characteristics of Effective Learning that they see in their children. We are constantly reminded of the need to engage children in terms of 'school-readiness' and we must work hard to develop mathematical skills in pre-school children. This book takes us beyond the simple building of towers, measuring in hand spans and spotting shapes in the environment. With this book, mathematical teaching goes to a whole new level - who could fail to be excited about making a number line with dandelion flowers, petals, small stones and blades of grass (idea 3.26). As part of The Smart Happy Project magazine Juliet Robertson submitted an article from her blog for inclusion in summer @ The Smart Happy Project summer and the triangle in nature 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. The challenge to formulate and develop your thinking is offered in the most supportive and nurturing way, you really feel that the session has been individually tailored to you alone, then you look around the group and see that everyone is feeling the same way, as the smiles and nods of approval to ones own understanding are common place amongst the group. What supplements this session (for me), so well is the amazing piece of work that Juliet has clearly taken the time and upmost care to produce, I refer to Juliet's book MessyMaths: An outdoor, playful approach. Either one (book or training session), will offer the attendee (or reader), a bounty of great experiences, in which they are then able to share with their Children, Staff and Families.

Messy Maths: A Playful, Outdoor Approach for Early Years Messy Maths: A Playful, Outdoor Approach for Early Years

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. Implementation – How do you intend to carry out the activity and what do you need to make it successful for all the children? In her book, Robertson is encouraging an awareness of maths in our children’s everyday lives and by gently highlighting and strengthening these concepts through ideas laid out in the book, we will lay a foundation for flourishing in maths abilities later in life. Where’s the Maths in that? We learn with our hearts and our hands before our heads. That holds true for every aspect of the curriculum and indeed for life - but doubly, trebly so for learning the foundations of mathematics at an early age.

Sink play

Using a long piece or rope or string. If you put a mark at every metre or yard on the rope then it becomes a giant measuring tape. Many of these ideas and activities are also beautifully displayed in full-colour photographs throughout the book, making it even easier to jump straight into outstanding outdoor learning opportunities. Topics covered include: general advice; exploring numbers; number functions and fractions; money; measurement; time; pattern; shape and symmetry; position, direction and movement; data handling; routines; and the mathematical garden. Messy Outdoor Maths– Blush – I’m caught on camera 🙂 – this is an example of my maths workshops. This is a primary aged one.

Messy Maths: A playful, outdoor approach for early years

Many of these ideas are expanded upon in her book: Messy Maths: An Outdoor and Playful Approach for Early Years. There are also more than 750 outdoor ideas and suggestions on her blog, I’m a Teacher Get Me OUTSIDE Here! www.creativestarlearning.co.uk/blog If a game isn’t going well, ask the children for their ideas about making it better. What rules could be adapted or changed? How can they make the game more exciting? I highly recommend Messy Maths to teachers working at all stages and in all manner of early years settings. You'll come away inspired - ready to get outdoors and help the children you work with feel super confident in their mathematical language and practical application of mathematical reasoning. I bet you'll get better at estimating weights and lengths too! Messy Maths has been named a 'Gold Winner' in the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards 2018 in the Education category.

Maths in Action

Messy Maths has been named the Silver Winner in the Outdoor Play category and Professional Books (and authors) category of the Nursery World Equipment & Resources Awards 2019. Mud kitchen play can spark an interest in natural loose parts and can be the first step to introducing new textures to children and broadening vocabulary. Describing the textures, combining loose parts into mud pies and soups and using instant snow and real ice can lead imagination into lots of different areas. We focused on creating reindeer food as we discussed cold climate animals, but you could make snowman stew or conker chowder… weighing and measuring the loose parts with precision and describing the natural properties. Consider the EYFS framework Juliet believes being outside makes maths real. In the classroom environment, maths can seem disconnected from everyday reality – but real maths is really messy. Lots of outdoor play and engaging activity along the way is a must, as being outside enables connections to be made between the hands, heart and head, and lays the foundations for more complex work as children grow, develop and learn. I have always been a big believer in the Steiner Waldorf approach of teaching the whole child and was thrilled to read in the intro: Messy Maths has been named the Gold Winner in the Mathematics category of the Nursery World Equipment & Resources Awards 2019.