Teachers at Cuffley School share three of their best maths ideas about shape and space. Years 2 and 3 explore the characteristics of different shapes using elastic. Firstly they use elastic bands on their fingers. Then with long pieces of elastic they make large shapes in the classroom using their bodies. At The Wroxham School Year 1 go on a shape hunt. This school has a Jeep on the school field and a motorbike and sidecar in the library! The children are enthused by finding mathematical shapes in the real world. Back at Cuffley School Year 3 are turning 2D in to 3D shapes. Using drinking straws and modelling dough they have to construct 3D shapes from 2D diagrams, drawing on their geometrical knowledge. In the plenary the children play a game where they have to listen to the properties of a shape being described, then guess what 3D shape it is. All the activities in this programme show aspects of geometry, shape and space using creative and absorbing ideas.

Video Series: Great Lesson Ideas
Release Date 2009