Mother's Day maths

Share the fun with these maths at home activities for lots of powerful pattern spotting practice

Can you hear the patterns when you read this Mother's Day poem?

Looking out for patterns with your child is a great way to make maths real, not scary.
There are lots of patterns in maths and you can use them to make understanding maths much easier. And when it seems easier it is more fun!

☺Have a go at writing a haiku poem with a pattern of 5, 7 ,5 sylables or make up a new number sequence pattern for the number of sylables in each line. You could call it e.g. 'a Smithku poem'!

Or depending on the age, stage, interests of your child choose one of these maths activity ideas to try.

Go on a pattern hunt in nature.

plant with leaves that make a number pattern

Have fun creating sequence patterns with size and colour.

lego bricks making a sequence pattern of colour and size

☺Take turns.
☺Player 1 creates a sequence pattern
☺Player 2 adds the next piece
★ Pass it on ★If your child chooses a different piece to the one you were thinking of - the talk that you share will be really valuable.

Have fun creating sequence patterns with shapes

pebbles, conkers, acorns making a sequence of shape pattern

Have fun making some number sequence patterns

number cards making a number sequence pattern easy

"
☺Take turns.
☺Player 1 creates a number sequence pattern
☺Player 2 adds the next number card
★ Pass it on ★ Watch out, there may be lots of different numbers that fit- Brilliant.

number cards making a number pattern sequence harder

☺Try using some number cards to make this sequence of numbers:9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, 90.
★ Pass it on ★Ask "Can you spot something special about the pairs of digits, one and eight, two and seven.....?".

Look out for the patterns in sums.

☺Try 2 + 7= 9 , 12 + 7= 19 ,22 + 7= 29
★ Pass it on ★Ask " What could the next sum in the pattern be?", "Can you make up another sum to start a different pattern" "
Or when your child is confident
☺Try 8 + 3= 11 , 18 + 3= 21 , 28 + 3= 31
★ Pass it on ★ Asking " What could the next sum in the pattern be?" doesn't need a 'correct' answer.Any answer will be valuable, the puzzling and talk will really extend understanding.

Get involved and encourage others with the Mother's Day maths you share on facebook or by e-mail Sue @ numberchase.co.uk and I will add your ideas to this article.

I am passionate to encourage families because the best way for you to help your child with maths at home is to have fun together. Get started with Number Chase games and activities.