Photo Stimulus- mathematical learning experience ...

Find or take a photograph that can be used as a stimulus for a maths learning experience in measurement or space. Upload it and list 3 open ended questions you would pose to the children.

This image can be used as a stimulus to encourage mathematical thinking for the NESA syllabus strand Number and Algebra. Specifically the outcome “describes mathematical situations and methods using everyday and some mathematical language, actions, materials, diagrams and symbols MA1-1WM”. This image (if it were to be used in the classroom) would be presented at the beginning of the lesson as part of an introduction into arrays and multiplication. Three questions that could be asked are:

What arrays have you seen in everyday life?

Possible answers include, bathroom tiles, windows, the cityscape (the windows/squares on the building), honeycomb, boxes of chocolates etc.. The students can have a plethora of answers as long as they can justify it. Leading on to the next question they would be asked ...

WHY is this an example of an array?

This question is prompting the student to use their mathematical thinking skills and link it with mathematical terminology to best explain why what they have suggested is an array. This question also allows other students in the classroom to learn off what the students are saying.

How could you find the area or perimeter of the box?

For this question, the teacher can give the students some time to examine how these donuts can be used to calculate the area or perimeter of the shape. This question encourages mental computational thinking skills.

As a future teacher, it is important for me to present information in a way that students will understand and can relate to their life outside of school. This will help them engage and retain the information better. Therefore, by using images such as these, I can engage students while still being relevant to what needs to be taught.

References:

• NESA (2012) Mathematics K–10 Syllabus. Board of Studies NSW. Retrieved from: https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/k-10/learning-areas/mathematics/mathematics-k-10