Great Lesson Ideas - Primary Maths - Shape and Space

Teachers at two schools in Hertfordshire use fun games to engage their primary pupils in maths lessons about shapes and space.

At Cuffley School, Years 2 and 3 explore the characteristics of different shapes using elastic. First they use elastic bands on their fingers. Then, with long pieces of elastic, they make large shapes in the classroom using their bodies.

Year 3 focus on turning 2D shapes 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 listen to the properties of a shape being described then guess which shape it is.

At The Wroxham School, Year 1 go on a Shape Hunt. Throughout their school they discover many geometric shapes. The children are enthused by finding mathematical shapes in the real world.