How can early years practitioners help young children to become not only numerate but also aspiring mathematicians who love numbers, shapes and mathematical comparisons?
The introduction of the Foundation Stage has led to practitioners seeking ways to teach maths that are more in line with the creative and playful ways young children learn other subjects.
Linda Pound draws on current thinking about children’s mathematical development to show how you can encourage and enhance the numeracy skills of any child in the early years by linking maths to everyday life situations and making it a playful and enjoyable cross-curricular activity.

Archimedes

Archimedes - the Greek mathematician reputed to have shouted “Eureka!” as he leapt from his bath having discovered the principles of floating bodies. Whatever the truth of the myths surrounding the man, he was certainly one of the world’s great mathematicians. The practical application of his work in pulleys and levers created formidable weapons such as catapults and ship tilting systems, allowing his home city in Sicily to defend itself against the Romans. “Give me a place to stand and I will move the earth”, he declared.

But despite these triumphs, his true love remained maths for maths sake. Plutarch writes: “He placed his whole affection and ambition in those purer speculations where there can be no reference to the vulgar needs of life.” His most important breakthroughs came in the field of geometry with his work on the areas and volumes of curved objects.

So how did this Greek mathematician in the third century BC arrive at a calculation of Pi? Did he really create a Death Ray to fight off invading ships? And what does a recently discovered manuscript reveal about his methods.

Disney Learning Maths - Addition & Subtraction

Thanks to michael5276122 from Bolivia!