Going for a walk is not only a great way of the whole family stretching their legs and getting some fresh air, but it is also a fun learning opportunity for your child, and there are many things you can do. Walks work wonders for learning maths!
The idea is to get children looking in more detail at their environment and using mathematical language to describe size. Research has told us that spending time in a ‘green and growing’ environment is beneficial to our mental health. Spending time in a wooded area or walking round the trees in the local park is sometimes called ‘Forest Bathing’. Here are a couple of activities you can do with your child.
Big and small leaves
Can you find a leaf that is smaller than your hand? Can you find one that is bigger than your hand? Develop children’s mathematical thinking using body parts to compare size and compare the sizes of your hand against theirs. A horse’s height is measured in hands which used to be the width of a man’s hand across the palm by the knuckles. We use a standard 4 inches now.
Find the leaf family
Daddy, Mummy, big sister, the pet and so on. Arrange them in size order. Use different terms to describe them - big, gigantic, enormous, huge – small, tiny, little, teeny-weeny. Children often find this easier than asking them to find the smallest, the medium sized one and then the biggest. They can relate size to familiar things first. By using different words to describe size, your child will be developing their vocabulary and will become more confident in describing objects scientifically.
Keep the big and small theme going as you walk. Take giant and tip toe steps. Jump on the spot and do a long jump. Find a thick stick, a thin stick, a long stick and a short stick.
Have fun!