Year 6 Outdoor Maths

Challenge: To create a circle with a 2m radius. 

Tools: pencil, wool, tape measure and chalk. 

Method: Students applied the problem solving coloured Thinking Hats 

Step 1. Black Hat - get the facts 

Step 2. Rainbow Hat - generate ideas

Step 3. Red and Green Hat - sort ideas into ‘go’ and ‘stop’

Step 4. Pink Hat - plan and design

Step 5. Purple Hat - create 

Step 6. Orange Hat – evaluate

Reflection: It was great to see students collaborate with peers outside their friendship group, communicate, problem-solve and use creative and critical thinking while working through this challenge. Impressive was the students ability to use metacognition (thinking about thinking) to explain to classmates their working out and answering tricky questions from their peers about how they can be sure their circle has a 2m radius all the way around.

Next Challenge: Create an area of 30 square metres using cones, a trundle wheel, string and or measuring tape.  If it is a compound shape, students receive extra points.