Children\'s Mathematics

Figure 3.6 Spiral aliens

• We put plain yoghurt in the fridge with some fruits and jam for children who
  wanted to stir. On another occasion we provided ready-made pastry and dried fruit
  for rolling up, and juices to mix and stir for drinks.


• We brought in two giant African snails in a glass tank and put out some magni-
  fying glasses.


• A basket of ropes and wools that we took outside for play subsequently led to some
  complicated spiral mazes outside. Following this when the grass was mown on the
  school playing-field, some of the children decided to create grass mazes.

Exploring spirals together

• With the whole class, we played a circle game that involved winding and unwind-
  ing actions.


• A group of children made coil pots with clay.


• At the beginning of Advent we created an ‘Advent Spiral’ on the floor of the hall,
  the pathways marked out with moss. Children took it in turns to walk in the dark
  hall from the outside to the centre, to light their own candle from the central
  candle that was already lit – and then to retrace their journey.

Enriching schemas through visits

When planning to support and extend children’s schemas, we often included infor-

mal, local visits. Chris Athey’s study supports the ‘critical importance of first-hand

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