How do I keep them thinking in the math space?

Challenge Board 
Pose a problem for all to solve.
Displays the variety of answers and encourages discussion using language of - justifying, reasoning, explaining, confirming or challenging ideas, thinking and understanding.

How could I make mapping fun?

Mapping your own town is developing the vital skills or proportional reasoning. I challenge you to have a go - its not as easy as it looks. We worked on this project as a class for at least a week. Kept discovering things we had missed or not aligned correctly.

We used whiteboard marker so we could keep adjusting our map. The children could also work on making a map of the school. We looked at google earth, site plans, architectual designs, birds eye view, building a construction then drawing the designs while constantly making links between 2D and 3D.

Loads of fun. Each child had to put their lego house on the street in the right street. The children out of town added in their relatives houses where they visit after school.

In case you are wondering - its Ranfurly!!

How hard is art with nature?

sourced from http://www.racheous.com/reggio-inspired/rocks-provocations/

This is so stunning. I always admire artwork inspired by nature. This is such a simple yet effective way of looking at patterns / design / shapes and nature in a creative way. 

Sunshine created by 5 year old

 Smiling cat designed by 4 year old. 

Construction - Learning???

 

sourced from pinterest

Mmmmmmm! What could you possibly learn with this??? 

 form 

structure

strength in design

shapes

social communities

collaborative design 

oral language

story writing

Mmmmmm!

Why is math important?

This will change your thinking about math. It completely inspires you to want to know more.

Equivalent Fractions

Inspirational way to think about fractions that is visual but requires thinking. Meets the needs of nearly all kids. Check out the site to see the whole story.

Stretchy Shapes

WOW! Even I want to do this one! This site even comes with cards to inspire ways to use the stretchy to explore shape. Can be elastics, or individual. Develop a bank of questions to investigate the names of shapes you can make with different numbers of people.





Just another idea I found.

Reflection Strategy

Reflection of things I found out! Check out this website to see how to complete this fun way to reflect on your thinking about using math.

Math Language Display

Developing the language for maths assists in making links and connections. Children developing their own personal math vocab wall over time not only supports their language and understanding but also that of others in the room. This could also be done online in a click and listen to a child explaining their meaning of a word.

Endless possibilities with this concept.

Display board could be on place value. How to learn your times tables, the link between division and multiplication, strategies you could use to solve a problem.

Demonstrating the thinking!

 Kids demonstrating their thinking supports so much learning

Pride in their presentation of their thinking
clarifies their thinking
demonstrates different models for solving a problem
Inspires others
Opens doors for peer tutoring within the class

The best way I have found this to work is using edu-creations app on the ipad and making a movie using their voice as well as their drawings to show their thinking. Very powerful for parents to see steps to achieve the end result. Post it on your blog creating a wider audience. Inspires students to help other students across the world in learning math.

Stinky Feet Game

I have so many ideas about how I could use this game, and not only for students but also adults and team building. There's nothing quite like a bit of fun competition to get the brain working. Really nice way to end the game with positive and negative point system.

Teaching division through literacy

This story is great for teaching division. Kids love a story online. I call it movie time. Make sure point of lesson is shared before you watch though.

Flying number knowledge

Sorry unable to find original source. However this was shared on pinterest for you to check out.
Number Bonds
Times Tables
Flying Factors

Bright colourful and great for demonstrating learning.

How can I teach math with lego?

Lego has so many uses. This site explores ways to use lego for learning maths in heaps of ways for older children.

Monster Math

This is a great activity that really works. Kids love and and even the most challenging child loves this and goes back to make more independently. Give it a go. They look great on the wall too.

Lego Symmetry

Click on the picture to visit the site who inspired this brilliant learning.

Mathematical Language

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-Expressions-Foldable-376944

As we all know language to explain our thinking is so important. The knowledge of what symbols mean is vital to help record mathematical equations.

Barbie Bungy!

I bet you hadn't thought of this use for Barbie before!! Bungy Barbie and measure how far she goes. LOL!!

Thanks to pinterest for such a wicked idea!! Sadly the site is no longer accessible.

Tangram Art

http://www.abcteach.com/directory/subjects-math-geometry-tangrams-3955-2-1#24314

 Click on link for free printable tangram shape models.

Shape and art! This is a great way to include visual checking and patterns in math. They look fab!!

Mixing Fractions!

Woohoo! Fun fractions again. Measuring, volume and fractions. Add in capacity with beans and what a combination of strand and numeracy. Thanks for the inspiration and great ideasRoyal baloo blog