RESOURCING YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE Working outside with children, the maths resources are mainly environmental. However a few extra mathematical resources can go a long way. There are three approaches which can run alongside each other: Generic maths resources that are not specific to an area of play but are simply useful to have and can be kept in one shed, or be stored in a variety of grab n go bags. Resources which are stored in different parts of the outdoor space, e.g. mud, sand, water, play, construction, den building, nature investigations. If these resources cannot be left outside, consider separate boxes or trugs which children or adults can carry inside and put out each day as needed. Resources which are small, lightweight and useful for off-site work. These tend to fit into a pocket or small dry bag. Once routines are in use around the resources children can usually be left to get on and use them in their play. Adults can model the use of different resources in their work with children. Generic maths resources (in Grab n go bags, etc.) : Fluorescent cards in different colours, e.g. green, yellow, orange and pink with digits 0-9 in each colour. This allows for team games, trails and hunts following specific colours. There s no need for more than a couple of sets for free play. Have spares to replenish lost cards. Have a washing line and pegs available too for sorting and ordering numbers and objects. Painted number pebbles 0-9 in different colours. These are likely to get scattered around the outdoor space if you have lots. So decide whether this matters or not and put out quantities according to manageability. Variations on this theme include: Dotty pebbles painted on the reverse of number pebbles Dotty pebbles painted as standalone on different pebbles
Mark marking items for writing numerals and making tallies and charts. This may include boxboard, pens, pencils, A5 clipboards, mirror, old whiteboards, little blackboards, Perspex off-cuts and so on. You may find it easier to have writing implements in a separate bag to the portable writing surfaces. Chalk have this in a separate bag as it s messy. Less can often be more as some surfaces eat chalk and it can rapidly disappear. Time measuring devices a stopwatch and sand timers of different lengths of time Length measuring devices: Tape measures soft plastic sewing and traditional trade metal ones, folding metre stick, one-metre rope worms (Sammy the Snake), masking tape, bandages, ribbons, etc. Rainbow sticks: these can be home-made using found sticks and dipping the ends in paint. Keep the posher (logic) versions for games and investigations. White line pebbles: Begin with white lines and T-shaped pebbles, introduce other lines as recommended by the children themselves they may even want to make their own. Coloured chuckies these are small stones that have been painted different colours on one side and left blank on the other. They are useful for pattern work, role play and small world play. These are also likely to get lost and scattered over time. Roll up number lines: vertical and horizontal. I use the Cosy nature number borders and add lines on the back using permanent marker pen. Numicon pieces: have old pieces available for outdoor work. I have a mirror collection but I simply bought this out of curiosity. Unwanted or spare indoor plastic resources: these get retired outside for general play. 2D shapes and 3D objects are useful in separate bags. Natural materials such as shells, cones, sticks, leaves for counting, sorting and playing games. If possible, present these in baskets and natural containers as this makes them more attractive and aesthetically pleasing. Again, consider the management of these little items. As much as possible, collect these sustainably in line with the land access laws of your country. Do this on walks and off-site visits. Ask parents and carers to help with building up collections. Mirror numbers: this is my luxury item. I just like them outside as the mirrors reflect the environment and make them blend in. Mirrors: for exploring patterns and symmetry A compass for exploring and old maps of different scales or printed off the Internet and laminated.
Bigger maths resources for outdoor use Other resources which are useful for outdoor work include: A large bucket balance scale good and robust. A trundle wheel an old-fashioned wooden one tends to be more robust than the plastic versions. A weather recording kit: simple, non-digital and ideally made with children. A clock which can be read outside (Hang inside, facing out through a window) Sticks cut to a variety of lengths Rope (supervised access and risk benefit assessed) Light-coloured cloth plain on one side and 10-10 grid on the other Physical play outside Traditional PE equipment: hoops, cones, bean bags, etc. Ensure they are old, worn and suitable for outdoor use. A variety of balls of different weights, textures, colours, patterns and sizes Large junk items such as bore pipes for rolling and crawling through, tyres for rolling and stacking, bread crates, milk crates and so on. Saturn spinners, rockers, and other rotational devices. Construction play Planks of wood of different lengths and widths. Buckets of different sizes and shapes for transporting materials. Wheelbarrow for transporting large quantities of materials. Uniform bricks and non-uniform rocks. Guttering and pipes of different lengths, diameters and colours. Pulleys for lifting and transporting Fish crates and other storage boxes Wooden stumps, disks and logs Gravel, bark chips and other loose surfaces which can be transported Traffic cones of different sizes Scoops and shovels Water play Variety of robust, ex-indoor, measuring containers in standard sizes, e.g. 100ml, 250ml, 500ml, 1000ml Variety of household containers in standard sizes but a range of shapes Funnels of different shapes and sizes Syringes variety of sizes
Turkey baster and pipettes Hoses of different diameters and lengths Guttering and pipes of different widths, lengths and colours 10 litre and 5 litre containers, ideally with taps for pouring. Water pump Sand play Range of containers for filling and pouring and packing sand: standard and non-standard Shapes and numerals for hiding and finding Resources from mud and water suggestions below Mud play Recipe cards with quantities real and purpose made Spoons, spatulas and stirrer of different sizes and shapes and materials (wooden, metal, plastic, silicone these are different attributes). Standard measuring cups and spoons Containers of different sizes for mixing and stirring: standard and non-standard units Old pans of different capacities Hooks for hanging up items and cupboards for storing Balance bucket weighing scales Gardening Pairs of children-sized gardening gloves Small sized real tools Flower pots of different sizes Seed trays (arrays) of different sorts Watering cans and bottles of different capacities Den building Variety of pegs of different shapes, sizes and colours Different lengths and diameters of line: thick thin, long, short, etc. Assorted mix of quick-dry material in different sizes and some similar sizes Viewing frames in different shapes and sizes, with and without flaps Numerals for door numbers or sign-making materials for this purpose
Nature investigations Old, odd plastic animals Magnifying glasses a variety of different strengths Viewing frames in different shapes and sizes, with and without flaps Mirrors of different shapes, sizes and including convex (e.g. large spoons) Pots and tubs of different shapes and sizes, ideally with lids (for matching) and holes (for animals to breathe) Mini maths pack for off-site explorations If you have to set up an outdoor space from scratch or work in a nomadic outdoor nursery, then weight and space become crucial. The advantage is that you become much more astute about what resources are really needed, what can be quickly made from the environment and which are luxury items. Here are the maths-specific items I may have in my pockets or rucksack: A one-metre piece of thin rope Sammy the Snake A miniature sand-timer. A digital device with various built-in apps like a compass, stop-watch and calculator. A fold up measuring tape. A miniature number line which can be rolled up. Mini fluorescent number cards: these are easily seen on dark days. A white cotton sheet or tarp with a 10x10 square grid on one side. A die or pair of dice. Pocket-sized prompt cards A finger puppet such as a little mouse or other British wildlife creature Young children often like baskets for collecting things. Alternatively an ice-cream tub with string attached for dragging along the ground works well.