How can you learn mathematics using real world problems?

Whilst being on placement in reception I have seen cash handling within role play in the reception classroom. The children had the opportunity whilst on 'choose' to go in the role play area, which, at the time was at a supermarket. 'Choose' is a time the children get to choose form a selection of options whilst the teacher is working with a particular group. When in maths lessons it is important to give children, worded questions based on a range of real-world problems as well as straight forward sums.  This helps them to realise the importance of maths and how they can use what they learn in school in real life.

When can you use maths outside of the classroom?

-       Maths can be used when building things, measuring is important skill to use within the primary school. Without learning this skill at an early age, something as easy as measuring a plank of wood to build a bench can prove really difficult.                                  

-       For baking maths is an essential skill, estimating and weighing ingredients are extremely important when baking a cake.

-       You can use Maths when shopping with parents etc.

-       When driving by estimating the amount of fuel you’ll need to planning out a trip based on miles per hour and distance travelled.

-       Maths helps you manage time effectively.

‘I see pupils learning things sometimes that they don’t perhaps make sense of quite so quickly indoors ... This morning with the numeracy, I know a lot of children would have really struggled with grasping the concept of perimeters, but being able to walk it out ... made a lot more sense to them’ (Teacher).”(Plymouth University, 2016)