Tape lengths Small world play
What you need:
•
Washi Tape™ or masking tape
• Scissors • Small world toys – we used dinosaurs
What to do: 1.
Cut different lengths of tape and stick them around the edges of the tuff tray.
2. 3. 4.
Add rolls of tape to the tuff tray. Scissors can be included if age-appropriate. Allow the children to explore and discover the different lengths of tape by wrapping small world toys.
Top tip Washi Tape™ or masking tape is a great resource for continuous provision and is available in a variety of different sizes.
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50 fantastic ideas for tuff tray mathematics
What’s in it for the children?
Giving children ownership of their tuff tray play allows them to explore the concept of length through wrapping objects of interest – in this case, it was dinosaurs. Children learn best through child-led discoveries. For example, they can discover that for wrapping a dinosaur’s body they need long lengths of tape, but for the legs, much shorter lengths of tape are required. This is really meaningful early exploration of mathematics. Taking it forward
• • •
Try adding rulers into the play to encourage linking length to numerical representation. Add different-shaped objects that require different lengths of tape for wrapping. For more capable children, just provide rolls of tape and allow the children to discover length for themselves. They will be highly motivated to use the tape, but expect to go through quite a lot and end up with tape balls!
Health & Safety
Care is needed for using scissors. Tape could also be a hazard if the children start to wrap themselves – which is a possibility! 50 fantastic ideas for tuff tray mathematics
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Rain, rain, go away! Use what you've got!
What you need:
• An outdoor space • Rain • Measuring jugs • Sponges
What to do: 1.
Place the tuff tray outdoors and observe it with the children as the rain falls.
2.
The level to which the tuff tray fills will depend on how heavily the rain falls and for how long. This is a good opportunity to make recordings of your findings.
3.
The children can transfer the rainwater into the jugs using the sponges. Offering different-sized sponges will provide another opportunity for discovery and allow the children to explore capacity, as the larger sponges will hold more liquid than the smaller sponges.
Top tip Provide different containers to collect the rainwater, such as buckets, and make comparisons involving capacity and surface areas.
What’s in it for the children?
Nature and early mathematics go hand in hand, and inviting children to explore changes in their environment over extended time periods will also allow the children themselves the time to develop a deeper understanding of nature and mathematics. Taking it forward
•
If your tuff tray is kept outside, you can use it to explore seasonal changes. During winter, the rain might freeze; in autumn, the tray may have more debris, such as leaves; spring can see lots of rain; and in summer, the rain can feel warmer.
Health & Safety
Always ensure that rainwater is fresh before allowing the children to access the tuff tray. Water that has been held for a long time can become stagnant. 12
50 fantastic ideas for tuff tray mathematics