Our First Class boys have been busy engineers lately as we dived into Active Maths, making learning and exploring mathematical concepts fun, hands-on, and exciting!
This month, our focus was on 3D shapes — and we didn’t just look at them… we built them!
🍝 Building 3D Shapes with Spaghetti & Marshmallows
Using spaghetti, toothpicks, and mini marshmallows, the boys worked as real-life shape designers to construct their very own 3D models. This creative approach turned our classroom into a mini construction site!
We explored and built:
- Cubes
- Cuboids
- Square-based pyramids
- Triangular-based pyramids
- And many more amazing structures!
The spaghetti and toothpicks became the edges, while the marshmallows acted as the corners (vertices) — a tasty (but not for eating! 😉) way to understand how 3D shapes are formed.
🔍 Exploring Shape Characteristics
As they built, the boys discussed the properties of each shape, including:
- How many faces does it have?
- How many edges?
- How many corners (vertices)?
- Are the faces squares, rectangles, or triangles?
By physically creating the shapes, they could clearly see and count each feature, helping them to truly understand the structure of 3D shapes rather than just memorising facts.
🤝 Independent & Partner Work
The boys worked both independently and with partners, developing:
- Problem-solving skills
- Teamwork and communication
- Mathematical vocabulary
- Persistence and resilience
- Fine motor skills
Working with partners encouraged discussion, collaboration, and sharing ideas — especially when a shape didn’t quite stand up the first time! 😊
🌟 The Benefits of Active Maths
Exploring 3D shapes in this hands-on way helped the boys:
Deepen their understanding through practical experience
Visualise abstract mathematical concepts
Strengthen spatial awareness
Build confidence in explaining their thinking
Stay engaged and motivated
Most importantly, it showed them that maths is not just something we write in copies — it’s something we can build, explore, and experience.