In our mathematics tutorials last week we looked at 3D objects & 2D shapes and fractions. Within the 3D objects and 2D shapes tutorial we were given physical shapes and told to sort them in to groups while having the mentality that we know nothing about them. Therefore, the shapes could be sorted by colour, size, 2D and 3D or whatever way came to your head first. This allowed us to see the different ways in which the shapes could be sorted and perhaps the ways in which your pupils might sort them if you carried out this activity in the classroom. I think this would be a great activity for pupils when they are first introduced to shapes as it allows them to explore the shapes and investigate them on their own. We then looked at the shapes in more depth, identifying the faces, edges and vertices of them.  We looked at a variety of shapes such as a polyhedron, prism, regular polyhedron, pyramid and many more. Although I had previously learned this when I was in primary school, this tutorial was very useful and refreshed my memory as there were some things that I had already forgotten. To end the tutorial, we were asked to make our own 3D shapes, using plasticine and straws. I  thought that this was an excellent exercise to use with pupils as they can make their own shape and then identify its properties, such as the number of faces or edges it has or simply being able to identify and name the shape that they had made.

In the second tutorial, we focused on fractions. Fractions are a common struggle amongst learners of all stages. We explored ways that could be used to make learning fractions easier for children. We discovered that using physical objects that the children can half an quarter is a great practical activity. Relating fractions to real life objects such as a pizza for example, it may be easier for children to understand. A counting stick is also very useful to develop positional aspect of a number. The use of a fraction wall also gives children a better understanding of fractions. To end the tutorial, we were given a puzzle to do in small groups. The puzzle was lots of little triangles and on each side of the triangle it had either a problem or an answer. The aim was to match all the problems to the correct answer in order to make one big shape. It was very challenging but a great exercise. Below are some pictures of  what it looked like before and after.