Mathematical talk opportunities across the setting
Mathematical talk can take place in all areas of the classroom and there are many opportunities to incorporate maths across the setting when we tune into these.
The mathematical potential of almost all areas of provision (indoors and outdoors) can be enhanced to create a climate for maths play, supporting learners to both think and talk mathematically during their interactions. A carefully thought-out environment can ensure that children frequently ‘bump into’ opportunities for maths-talk and this helps us as adults to draw attention to the mathematics in different situations.
Routines
Opportunities to solve real problems using mathematical thinking and language
Roleplay or small world
Offer the opportunity to re-enact everyday experiences using the numbers we see around us in everyday life.
Outdoor area
Opportunities for physical play and the possibility of measuring or comparing
Comparing
Compare distance or length.
Describe and solve practical problems as they build obstacle courses (e.g. Which plank would fit here? How far apart should we place the obstacles?)
Games
Support movement-based games involving hand-eye coordination and facilitate mathematical questioning (e.g. Who threw it the furthest? How could we measure?)
Developing language
Encourage the language of size and capacity by emptying and filling different containers in the mud kitchen and during sand and water play.
Construction
Opportunities that facilitate spatial talk, using the language of shape, position and direction.
Explore
Explore shapes and their properties by seeing what will fit, turning blocks around and choosing blocks for a specific purpose (e.g. Which would be the best blocks to use to build a tall tower? How could we build a bridge to cross the river? Can we get two blocks to make the same shape? Can we find one big block to use instead of these two little ones?
Investigate
Investigate making enclosures with blocks, perhaps with a mat or carpet tile to build around (e.g. How can we make sure that the tiger doesn’t escape? What would fit inside the space?)
Creative area
offer opportunities to use maths talk in the folding and reshaping of paper, manipulation of boxes and estimation of how much of a material will be needed.
Explore
Explore the language of size such as when folding paper or sticking boxes together (e.g. Can you fit that on this page? What shape will you get when it is cut in half? Which size box do we need?)
Investigate
Investigate putting shapes together (composition) and taking them apart (decomposition) when sticking mosaic or collage pieces (e.g. What might it look like if we added this box too? What shapes have you used to make your rocket? Why?