Maths everywhere Activity
Why do it?
Simple maths is everywhere. It is:
- finding things that go together
- organising things into groups
- using ideas about shape, colour, size, number and patterns.
How to do it
You can play games around the house where children group things together — matching socks and shoes, or sorting forks and spoons, as well as sorting books, blocks or bottle tops.
You can collect things from around the house:
- cards
- magazine pictures
- photos
- You can go for walks to gather items that are good for matching and sorting:
- shells
- leaves
- twigs
- pebbles
- driftwood.
| Kāri | Cards |
| Pikitia | Picture |
| Whakaahua | Photograph |
| Anga | Shell |
| Rau | Leaf |
| Rārā | Twig |
| Pōhatu | Pebble |
| Tāwhaowhao | Driftwood |
| Porowhā | Square |
| Porohita | Circle |
| Porotītaha | Oval |
| Tapatoru | Triangle |
| Tapawhā | Rectangle |
| Ngā tae | Colours |
| Whero | Red |
| Kōwhai | Yellow |
| Kākāriki | Green |
| Kāhurangi | Blue |
| Mā | White |
| Pango | Black |
| Ngā tau | Numbers |
| Rahi | Size |
| Tauira | Pattern |
| Hū | Shoe |
| Tōkena | Sock |
| Whāka | Fork |
| Koko | Spoon |
| Ngā rakau | Blocks |
| E hia ngā mea? | How many things? |
| Tokohia ngā tangata? | How many people? |
| Kotahi te pukapuka | There is one book |
| E rima ngā koko | There are five spoons |
| Rite tonu, ōrite | Same |
| Rerekē | Different |
| Wehewehea | Sort |
| He aha te tae? | What colour is it? |
| Te tae ōrite | Same colour |
| Te āhua ōrite | Same shape |
| E hia ō hū? | How many shoes have you? |
| E rua ōku hū | I have two shoes |
| E hia ō tau? | How old are you? |
| E toru ōku tau | I am three years old |
| Rite tonu te tae o ēnei mea | These things are the same colour |
