Outdoor maths with cones

Let nature guide your child to understand the different ways to group numbers, they'll learn the skills to change difficult sums into easy ones

How many cones can you see?
How many ways to count them?

You might see two plus two plus one make five or...

five cones on a stick two add two add one

You might see two add two add one add four or...

nine cones on a stick,two together and three together and four together

If you group the cones on different sides of the sticks, what sums can you see?

ten cones, five on one stick and five on a second stick

Can you see some pairs? Will the total be even or odd?

eleven cones, three on one stick, six on a second stick and two on a third stick

Can you think of an easy way to see how many there are?

twelve cones, two sticks with five and another stick with two

How many lots of two can you see?

twelve cones, six on one stick, four on a second stick and two on a third stick

Lots of different sums to choose from and many many maths words you could use

fourteen cones on a stick with four branches

One times three, two times three, three times three...

three cones on each of three sticks

Play the counting cones game

You will need some cones and counters or small treats e.g.raisins/cereal hoops.
☺ Choose some cones.
☺ Take turns
☺ Think of a new way to talk about the groups you can see and how they go together to help you count and collect a counter/treat
☺ Race to collect five counters/treats.
☺ Play again with a different set of cones
★ Pass it on ★On your turn talk about the groups you can see. For example say "I can see three lots of three"or
"three lots of two, add one, add one, add one"or
"three plus two, plus two, plus one, plus one" or
two and two and three and one and one, or
three and three more and another three more...
Make up a new version of the counting cones game.
Encourage others with the outdoor maths you share on facebook or by e-mail Sue @ numberchase.co.uk and I will add your ideas to this article.

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