Five ideas to enjoy and celebrate maths in the last weeks of school

As schools approach the end of the year, it can be a good time for classes to revisit and celebrate (or learn and celebrate) the playful, creative and collaborative nature of mathematics.

This can easily be done in ways that integrate concepts and skills learned throughout the year with creativity, collaboration and reflection.  

With Mathematics, Art and Creativity on the horizon as the next global theme for the International Day of Maths (coming up on March 14 2025), it feels worth sharing just a few ideas aligned with this particular theme for anyone interested in a novel way to end the school year by enjoying and celebrating the rich mathematical manifestations and connections found in our creative pursuits. 

1. Explore and create geometric artworks

Students of all ages can explore and enjoy the maths ideas in existing artworks and then apply their  existing knowledge and skills to create their own pieces — these could be full of beautiful maths to enjoy for its own sake, or a scene that imitate aspects of life.

In the first year or school, artworks could incorporate repeating or growing patterns and favourite 2D shapes. In later years, students might experiment with more complex 2D and 3D shapes. They may also be in a position to apply concepts like length, area, perimeter, symmetry, tessellations and transformations.

Left example: Collaborative artwork by students in Years 1 and 2. Recently exhibited and auctioned at the Rangeview Primary School art show fundraising event.

Right example: Individual artwork exploring possibilities with area and colour combinations with 3 x (4 x 2) rectangles to make the larger 4 x 6 rectangles.

Artworks can be collaborative or individual and the time you have available might determine the size and nature of the final published artworks, as well as they way in which they can be celebrated and enjoyed. For instance:

• Larger artworks: These could be displayed with captions in a classroom art show by inviting students from other classes and family members. 
• Mini-artworks: These can be kept as a keepsake or exchanged or gifted to a family member, a school buddy, or in-class through a randomised, end-of-year initiative (similar to in a Kris Kringle). Mini-artworks can also be used as the front of a greeting card which students can write to their future self or someone special.

2. Curate a 'maths eyes' photography collection

Students can exercise their maths eyes by taking photos of maths concepts they find at school or at home like symmetry in nature, geometric patterns or arrays in everyday objects. The class could curate these into a physical display or photo book, complete with captions explaining the mathematical ideas behind each image.

Committing to curating a collection like this will strengthen mathematical observation skills, build further awareness of the maths around us, and help to reunite maths with creativity, wonder, and joy.

3. Enjoy a bonanza of maths games

Students spend a week or two exploring and playing different maths games. Then work in pairs to write and illustrate a review, or create an advertisement (a poster or video), for their favourite game. Each review or advertisement can include a summary of how to play and explanation of why it's a game worth learning and playing. Or better yet, invite another class for a maths party where students teach their guests their favourite games!  

For recommended maths games to explore and play, check out these links:  

• 5 fun and engaging games for building number sense
• Got dice? Build maths skills with these 3 simple and exciting games
• Math for love games for the classroom

4. Create projects using coding

Got no experience with coding yourself? Perfect! Some of the best lessons I’ve facilitated were those that set kids up with the Scratch coding program, kid-friendly guides, and an expectation to simply explore What’s possible?. In such a rich environment, students  can’t help but work collaboratively to explore and figure out how the technology works with minimal teacher instruction. And start making stuff!   

Enjoy being a casual guide on the side: model curiosity about student discoveries, celebrate their small wins, and student collaboration across the class as they come across challenges.  Enjoy observing students step enthusiastically into the creative and collaborative roles they thrive and often learn best through. 

There are a number of excellent programming apps available for students. In my limited experience, ScratchJr and Scratch 3.0 has provided reliable, powerful and creative mathematical opportunities for students to make games, quizzes, digital stories and more. 

ScratchJr: Designed for children aged 5-7, ScratchJr is available as a free app.  Here’s an online guide which can also be downloaded as a PDF.

Scratch: Recommended for ages 8 to 108! There is a web version (requiring internet connection but no download) and a Scratch application that can be downloaded onto laptops and used offline for more reliable access. 

Scratch 3.0 is for computers running Windows 10 or higher, or macOS 10.13 or higher. Scratch 2.0 is for older operating systems.

• Student Guide: Getting started with Scratch online
• Student Guide: Getting started with Scratch 3.0
• Student Guide: Getting started with Scratch 2.0

5. Make a playful maths placemat)

Start with play. Students can begin by conducting collaborative research into 'What is a maths placement?' by exploring and making sense of the activities on these existing placements from Early Family Math.

Depending on their age and mathematical experience, students may be able to explore, understand and play some of the activities independently while other activities might require help to unpack. There’s nothing wrong with handing the resources over to students and getting them to do  the initial play-work of deciding which activities will require your support.  

Brainstorming and planning. Once students have explored the contents of different placemats, students can begin to think about what they would like to include on their own. Begin by inviting them to think critically and creatively about the ones they explored. 

• What did you like most about them?
• What would you have liked to have been different? 
• Which activities do you think were a good fit for you or our class and why?

Then brainstorm as a class ideas from our own learning journeys (both in and out of school) that students might like to include on their own playful maths placemat. Students can be free to include a favourite puzzle they enjoyed from an example placemat with their own, creative design.  Example placemat activities might spark a new idea or variation. 

The creative possibilities will be endless as the class activates their collective genius and shares any and all ideas that come to mind.   It’s a widely accepted practice in many industries that brainstorming sessions where a large quantity of ideas, even the silliest, ultimately yield the best ideas through that process. A common practice is to try and generate 100 ideas as a group.  For groups new to divergent thinking practice, targeting 50 is a good place to start. 

Creating and celebrating. Students can work individually or collaboratively to create their maths placement. Together as a class, you can discuss different ways to celebrate the completion of the placements. Will students keep them as a special artefact from the year? Will they go up as a temporary display for passersby to enjoy? Will they exchange them within the class for classmates to solve? Will they be a gift for someone outside of the class? Something else?

While these ideas only scratch the surface of what's possible in the realms of mathematical creativity, perhaps there's something here to spark an valuable idea or action of some kind for you.  Whatever you do to mark the end of the year as a maths learning community, enjoy!

An invitation to share: Feel free to send photos and a blurb of your special maths project success to [email protected] so that Maths Play can celebrate with you and play forward and inspire others with your creative maths stories  🙂

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