Hi everyone, a little message from your outdoor ladies …
We were thinking about all of the wonderful learning that was taking place in our garden over the past few months. The messy maths area was used lots and you all showed a lot of interest and knowledge whilst using this area.
A note for parents
Numeracy is everywhere if you look at the world through the eyes of a child…it is so much more than just counting and adding!
Loose parts can at first appear to be a pile of rubbish however it can be a wonderful resource to use with children. It captures their imagination and is like treasure that they can explore on their own and create their own learning.
Loose parts can be anything – lids, stones, bark, shells, kitchen roll tubes, ring pull, sticks, flowers anything you can think of.
Now back to the children!
Exploring weight
You can use loose parts to explore weight, seeing what items weigh more or less, how many of item (A) weighs the same as item (B). This encourages the children to use mathematical language such as heavy/heavier, light/lighter, more, less etc.
Sorting items
Sorting items is a great way for children to explore loose parts. They can sort items into different categories – by colour, by type of item by size or even counting out a specific number of items.
Exploring Patterns
Patterns are everywhere, on the road, driveways, on cereal boxes, everywhere. Loose parts allow children to explore patterns and create their own. Here are some examples.
Symmetry
Loose parts can be a great way to explore and learn about symmetry. It allows children to create their own image and pattern and begin to explore how to create the symmetrical image. Here are some examples.
Alison used natural items she collected from her daily walk to create an image that she wanted to copy symmetrically.
Creating images
Encouraging children to use their imagination and giving them the opportunity and freedom to be creative allowing them them to make and create works of art. Allowing your child to explore loose parts independently helps them to build confidence, use their imagination and promotes a sense of pride in their achievements. Here are some examples…
Please leave a comment and share what you have created at home.
