White Line Pebble Math
“It’s hard not to be inspired by pebbles. You pick them up, you look at them and they speak silently to you in ways that words can’t describe. They are inexplicably powerful. Sometimes one ends up in your pocket. Other times they get dropped and moved around by our actions as well as that of the waves, rivers and other geomorphological processes. ” Juliet Robertson
Wet Weather Nature Symmetry Circles
“This experience about symmetry is an example of how any teacher can easily differentiate an activity to meet the learning needs of any individual and to illustrate the progression of concepts involved in understanding symmetry and creating symmetrical patterns. Juliet Robertson
Reflective Investigations
In an outdoor space, more specific experiences can be provided for young children based upon their own discoveries in play. Various reflective surfaces can be created or found…
Rotational Symmetry
Using the iPad app, Photo Booth, note that one of the special effects is a mirror. Turn the iPad horizontally and the axis of symmetry changes to a traditional landscape reflection as shown below:
Exploring Pattern Outside-Rainy Day Rubbings
A useful alternative which is suitable for all weathers all year round is using aluminium foil. Small lengths can be cut out and then children can choose a surface which interests them to press it onto and rub.
Plants
Here are some ideas on thinking about plants with children.
The Art of Plant Study Outside
Representing all the parts of a plant, a challenge in our understanding.
Leaf Roses
Beautiful creations with leaves of different shapes and sizes. A bouquet of shapes.
Curating Collections
Children often collect lovely little bits from outside on their travels. We are collecting some ideas of our own on what does collecting look like? How does it connect us with nature? How are we responsible collectors? See some ideas that have intrigued us…
Creating a Collector’s Garden for All
The Collector’s Garden is a special rock garden where children can pick the rocks and shells (instead of picking flowers)
10 Ideas for Exploring Clouds
“Clouds are an endless source of fascination with a shape and symmetry all of their own, related to the physics of cloud formation. Unusually you cannot always tell the size of a cloud by looking at it – it seems to be almost independent of scale. This is all part of the fractal nature of clouds and many other natural forms.” Juliet Robertson
