Maths eyes — a simple way to build student understanding, confidence and joy

Have you got Maths Eyes? is a UK-based project helping people notice the maths around them in ways that build mathematical confidence, knowledge and skills.

The official website explains: Mathematics that surrounds people in their everyday lives, for the most part, remains “invisible”. If individuals are supported to look at familiar things and begin to see that mathematics is all around them, they can build confidence in their own ability to use mathematics.

Reflections on the Maths Eyes initiative

It wasn’t until I learned more about creative and visual methods of teaching maths that I began to really notice and appreciate the everyday maths around me.

Recently I realised I've developed a habit of taking time to admire the maths in street art, sculptures, architecture, tiling, graphic design, shelving arrangements, and more. I've noticed myself beginning to think about and describe what I could see using abstract maths knowledge and skills.

Day to day, activating my maths eyes has become a surprising ritual of mental maths play. It's a playful, anxiety free space full of mathematical possibilities. And it's opening up a treasure trove of inspiring ideas for the maths classroom! It has been encouraging to recognise how my own growing love of mathematics positively impacts the work I do with students as a teacher and tutor. 

Exercise your Maths Eyes

Here's a photo of a wall I walked past on a visit to Newcastle, NSW. I've used this as a maths talk image with students and teachers and, because it's so rich with mathematics, the conversations never fail to apply and extend upon existing maths knowledge and skills.

Have a play

Take a minute to look:

• What do you notice? What do you wonder?
• What maths do you see?

What did your maths eyes see?

Did you use skip-counting or some other way of knowing how many small squares there were? Perhaps you thought about area and perimeter.

Maybe you were drawn to the distribution of colour and how it makes the design asymmetrical, and you may have wondered if it’s possible to make it symmetrical by moving the coloured units around.

Fractions or percentages of colour might have come to mind. There’s also a chance you pondered how many different-sized squares could possibly be made on the 5 x 5 grid.

Three ways to help students exercise their Maths Eyes

1. Maths Eye Talks: Use a mathematically rich photo for students to ponder, discuss and make mathematical connections. Do this regularly. It takes only 5-10 minutes. It's a great way to start a maths class, or to take a break from other activities as a class.  Sometimes it can even lead into a focussed investigation. Here are some of my favourite maths eyes images to use.

2. Maths Eye Walks: Take students for a walk around campus in search of patterns, number, geometry or other maths concepts. Aim to stop at 2-3 interesting features and have a What maths do you see? discussion. 

3. Maths Eye "Homewalk": A play on traditional 'homework', encourage students to do a 'homewalk' by taking their family on a local walk to demonstrate how we can activate our maths eyes which supports overall maths development. And it's a fun way to connect with each other.

Join a photo-sharing, Maths Eyes community 

Want to connect with others over maths eyes photos and prompts to use? Maths Eyes Australia is a Facebook group does just this. To see the photos and be inspired to add you're own, you can join the community here.