Teaching Mathematics Outside the Classroom
Data
Teaching data in the younger years without making it relevant to real-life can seem quite abstract. Therefore when teaching data the more relevant it is to a child's personal experience, the more they will understand it. Using chalk on the playground, as seen below, is a perfect yet simple way of representing data outside.
Human Bar Graph. Choose a topic of choice. Set up a bar graph using chalk as seen in the picture below. Place laminated numbers with even intervals along the y axis. Children can stand on the x axis. Children make human bar graph in the playground. Take photos. Go back into class and put images on the interactive whiteboard. Ask a variety of data questions and children interpret results. Children can record results on a bar graph.
PE. On the playground children record how fast they can run a certain distance using stopwatches. Place seconds on the y axis (10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds). Children stand on x axis at the time it took them to run the distance. Take photos and display on the interactive whiteboard. Record data on a bar graph or pictogram. Can be used for any PE activity such as sprinting, long-jump, hurdle and discus.
School Survey. Children investigate how many children walk to school. Survey a selection of classes in the school using a tally chart. Interpret results and record using a bar graph or pictogram. This makes data collection relevant and purposeful as it relates to the childrens' personal experiences.
