How was it used?

I used the Parri Popeth activities in Pentre Bach to develop my children’s numeracy and mathematical skills.

I introduced the work in the Autumn term so it toed in perfectly with our preparations for Christmas.

As for both lessons I introduced the activities through a story I found that the children’s literacy and listening skills were developed also.

The children carried out coin recognition and counting activities through the story, interactive activities and role play during the first lesson.

They developed their abilities to repeat and create patterns in the second lesson through creating their own wrapping paper.

Impact and Outcomes

• It’s not very often that you can use a maths activity to develop literacy skills, but introducing the lesson through a story that the children can follow and interact with is a great way of not only engaging them and giving a context to their learning, but also a great way of getting them to read for a purpose.
• The money activity gave them plenty of practice in using coins and helped them make the link between the coins and purchasing goods.
• The nature of the activities and the grouping of the children helped develop their thinking and group paired/discussion deepened their knowledge of money.
• The nature of the activities and the fact that whilst one was a numerical activity the other was a shape and pattern activity meant that every child in the class could achieve highly at one of the activities as I often find that children who don’t perform so well numerically, have a special gift in seeing things in patterns etc.
• Role play allowed the children to consolidate their knowledge of money.
• The fact that the activities are online meant that many children went home and shared the stories with their parents.

Learner Feedback

‘I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the stories with my grandson – and loved having him show me how to do the activities’

‘I liked making the wrapping paper best’

‘I liked helping Parri Popeth buy his presents’

Other Resources

Plastic money, Role play shop, PPT story

Lesson Learnt

I think that sending web links home and allowing parents to become involved in the activities we have been involved with in class worked really well and I would like to do more of this. The children enjoyed explaining to their parents what they needed to do – in effect they became the teacher rather than the pupil.