Hello Readers!
I want to talk about ‘pimping’ those display! This year one of our focuses is displays, in and out of the classroom. We want to not only update them but reinvigorate them, move away from the dull, nonnegotiable displays that have existed for years, to exciting and movable, easily updated and useful displays!! This year we are rotating department time around the maths classrooms, each teacher hosts; setting up tables, providing a puzzle and putting the kettle! The department then decide on 2 stars and a wish for the room! I got this idea from Mr Jon Colebrook @ColebrookJon at the SSAT London Achievement Show 2015, so simple but effective as everyone takes pride in their classroom and the learning environment they provide!
Celebrating Pupil Work
Great Work Hangs Out Here
Check out my newest display, eagerly awaiting great work! The pegs make this one of the most versatile displays for celebrating pupils work. I’ve used it to peg Y12 A Level maths work up after marking a homework assessment. Also great during the lesson to peg examples of excellent answers!
I also love ‘This work is Incredible’ with Hulk presiding over the work shared by @HeadofEnglish here! Another example using pegs for interchangeable displays!
Variations on this could be an ‘In the Spotlight” display using paper that looks like stage spotlight and a “Wall of Fame”.
How do you measure up?
This display is perfect for the classroom or communal areas to encourage numeracy conversations as well as give pupils more experience of estimating heights. Using a printed ruler (or Ikea paper rulers), pinned at the correct height. Update regularly with the heights and pictures of the latest A-Z list celebrities.
BIDMAS/Countdown Corner
Simple idea, give pupils a target and they have to use the operations to make the target number just like the game show.
Alternatively create a countdown corner, like the program. Both ideas are great for starters, or on-going challenges.
How to Learn Maths
I found this great resource on the TES website here, by Complex_Number.
I agree completely that we have to encourage pupils to recognise mistakes as learning opportunities!
I printed two copies on two different colours to create two displays for different classrooms by mixing up the colours! Here is one of the displays
Door Display
Simply use the classroom door to remind pupils of the difference between area and perimeter.
Use our free door (or a window) display to provide a visual of the key terminology vertical and horizontal. Download from the link below;
Maths Display; Door Display
Suduko Challenge
Interactive display, I let pupils complete the suduko. By using PVC electrical tape I have created a damage free display on a painted wall. The tape peels away leaving no marks. You can see the black velcro tabs, these are placed on top of the yellow tape, i.e. damage free walls and a great activity.
The pouch at the bottom holds the remaining cards and a book of suduko’s of varying challenge.
This display is total versatile because it is essential a 9 by 9 grid. Therefore it can also be used when teaching place value, multiplying and dividing by powers of ten, translations, enlargements, coordinates and so much more!
Mathematics Around the World
Create a display by asking pupils to create a Facebook profile for famous mathematicians from around the world and use string to show their country. Thank you to Mrs Walters for this awesome display!
Instant Display Work
Post-it notes and window crayons, rolls of back paper, magic whiteboard and any surface can become a display area.
We have blogged about window crayons before, check out our blog here.
Magic whiteboard, wallpaper rolls also great to create instant display of pupils’ work.
Bunting
So many great bunting ideas to choose from JustMaths have blogged here about A-Z keyword bunting here. Or Miss Radders discusses how to make bunting from old maths text books here. Also MissBResource’s has an awesome collection of display resources including shape and formulae (by Mr Collins) bunting here.
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Literacy in Maths Displays
Boggle
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Mrs Rojas shares how she has created her boggle display here and includes free printables. This is my next project which is ideal for the maths classroom too!
Pupils have to make words using the letters on display, award double points for mathematical words. Increase the difficulty by adding the rule that the letters must ‘connect’, vertically, horizontally or diagonally. Using sticky back Velcro again allows the alphabet cards to be changed on a daily basis!
Key Action Words
In every maths classroom, all the key action words. These are referred to on a daily basis.
Corridor Displays
Elements of Maths: From the awesome Just Maths team find their elements of maths display and resources here. Great for classroom or department display.
Room Numbers: Pimp your room numbers, instead of 5 use operations that give an answer of 5.
Celebration Wall: Celebrate success in using Wall of Fame, in the spotlight!
NumberLoving’s Display Shopping List
Pegs– essential to make your displays interchangeable.
Pre-cut lettering– Widely available on the internet, or if your DT has a laser cutter get them to cut some out! How have I not known about this until now?!
Velcro tabs– these provide another way of keeping your displays adaptable (Suduko or Boggle). Remember stick these on top of PVC electrical tape to avoid damage to walls.
Velcro Wall- Use felt to create a velcro wall, a great idea shared at the recent school Learning Fair by Miss Austin.
Laminator– Essential, means you can keep display for re-use in a year or two or in another classroom.
String or Ribbon– for bunting or clothes line (see great work hangs out here)
Sticky Back Plastic– reinvigorate old filing cabinets or book shelves!
Window Crayons- instant display as pupils complete questions on glass
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One of our most popular blog posts to date has been “Nets to catch Angry Birds” (view here) in which these computer game characters are constructed into 3D shapes using nets. Leading to investigations about area, volume, surface area and scale factors and some great display work.
Some further research and I found FPS-X-Games.com blog by Steven Bear and his printable resources on his post “Minecraft Mob” here. His post includes nets to build Steve the Minecraft character, shown on the left. Nets to make the Creeper, the Pig, the Zombie and the Spider.
BIDMAS Bells
