Outdoor Learning Maths Planning Frames
The East Ayrshire SAC Numeracy Team and LOST have collaborated to create outdoor learning planning tools to support the planning of numeracy and maths learning in the outdoors for Early, First and Second Level.
The planners are based around different themes, including Daily Walks, Trees, Sport and Weather. The link below take you to a selection of the planning frames developed to date:
Outdoor Learning Planning Frames – Glow Resources
Here is an example of one of the planning frames for outdoor learning:
Outdoor Learning Early Level At the Park Planner Teacher
The following document was created to support the development of maths in the outdoors providing ideas for outdoor learning zones and equipment ideas:
Outdoor Learning Zone and Equipment Ideas
The following link provides ideas for parents when in the outdoors:
Outdoor Maths Activities – Parent planner
Useful Websites
The following websites and blogs will provide you with sources of inspiration when planning Numeracy and Mathematics activities through Outdoor Learning.
East Ayrshire LOST – Learning Outdoors Support Team Blog
https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/ea/learningoutdoorssupportteam/
Sign up to receive the LOST weekly newsletter containing Literacy, Numeracy and HWB Outdoor Learning ideas.
CPD
Recorded Education Scotland Webinar – Learning and Teaching Numeracy and Maths Outdoors (around 50 min long and full of useful information)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyzhJn_M6DU
Juliette Robertson website for support in developing your space and resources
https://creativestarlearning.co.uk/
Learning Through Landscapes
https://www.ltl.org.uk/free-resources/ will take you to the search tool by stage and curricular area.
Sustainable Learning
https://www.sustainablelearning.com/resource/outdoor-maths
RHS Gardening Campaign
https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk/resources/activity/estimating-environments
Signposts for Global Citizenship
http://www.signpostsglobalcitizenship.org/curriculum-area/numeracy
Woodland Trust
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/support-us/act/your-school/resources/
Woodland Trust Investigating Leaves
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/media/48345/leaf-id-sheet.pdf
Play of the Wild
https://playofthewild.com/2020/08/19/outdoor-maths-activities-ks1-maths-outdoor-learning/
Citizen Science
The WOW data base from the Met Office was mentioned in the Weather planner
TCV keeps an updated record of current Citizen Science projects (lots of information handling, measure etc.)
https://www.tcv.org.uk/scotland/discover/citizen-science/
There is also a bank of surveys from the OPAL project. OPAL is a project that is no longer live so you can’t upload to a national data base but the materials are excellent and very user friendly. Good for school and local area surveys.
Tree measuring
https://www.owlscotland.org/images/uploads/resources/files/TreeMeasuring2018.web3.pdf Great resource especially for 2nd level and up.
Other useful blogs
Learning Outside the Classroom
https://learningoutsidetheclassroomblog.org/2019/04/17/9-ways-to-take-your-maths-lessons-outside/
Maths Trails
The LOST Team have developed Maths Trails. Maths Trails are a fun and engaging way to use and learn maths skills outdoors. They can be used to apply and enhance learning in different contexts and to make numeracy and maths learning relevant by linking it to real life and demonstrating maths in the world around us. For teachers, this means that the activities can be amended to meet different learner needs and can be used to focus on a variety of Experiences and Outcomes within the the MNU Curriculum. Maths Trails are therefore suitable for learners working at Early Level and beyond and can be completed in school grounds or further afield. You can find out more on their Maths Trails page, where they have example trails for each level and even some ready made for East Ayrshire schools.
The LOST team have developed a range of outdoor learning maths activities across Second Level . They can be found here:
Second Level (Primary 5, 6 and 7) Numeracy and Maths Learning Activities
