Math. Outside. It’s a dream combo, like peanut butter and jelly… or kids and puddles. The best part? Outdoor math is hands-on, engaging, and secretly sneaks in all that number sense while kids are too busy having fun to notice. So, let’s dive into how we can integrate math into outdoor learning, with seasonal ideas, playful math activities, and reflection strategies that will have your students seeing numbers in the trees, trails, and even the mud.
Seasonal Math Adventures
Fall: Leafy Logic & Pumpkin Play
Counting & Sorting: Collect fallen leaves and sort them by size, shape, or colour. Can students make a pattern? Can they estimate how many leaves fit inside a hula hoop?
Pumpkin Measurement: Bring out the measuring tapes and compare the circumference of different pumpkins. Predict which one is the heaviest before weighing them!
Winter: Snowy Shapes & Icicle Investigations
Symmetry in Snowflakes: Study real or paper snowflakes to explore symmetry. How many lines of symmetry can students find?
Ice Cube Math: Fill different containers with water and freeze them. Can students predict which will take the longest to melt? What factors affect melting speed?
Spring: Budding Math Minds
Plant Growth Charts: Measure and record the growth of a plant over time. How much does it grow each week? Graph the results!
Frog Jump Estimation: Get hopping! Have students jump like frogs and measure their longest jump. Can they estimate each other’s jumps before measuring?
Summer: Water & Shadows
Water Estimations: Use different-sized containers and estimate how many cups of water each holds before measuring.
Shadow Math: Measure shadows at different times of the day and discuss how they change. What’s the pattern?
Math Play Outdoors
Nature Number Hunt – Give students a number and have them find that many of something (e.g., 5 pinecones, 3 types of flowers, 8 smooth rocks).
Stick Shapes – Can students create different geometric shapes using sticks? Challenge them to make a hexagon or an irregular polygon!
Jumping Equations – Write numbers or equations on the pavement with chalk and have students jump to the correct answer.
Rock Stack Subtraction – Start with a pile of rocks and remove a few at a time to create subtraction problems. How many are left?
Books to Inspire Outdoor Math
“Spaghetti and Meatballs for All!” by Marilyn Burns – A great book for introducing area and perimeter. Take it outside and map out space using natural materials!
“One Duck Stuck” by Phyllis Root – Count along as different animals try to free the duck. Then, head outside and look for groups of things to count!
“Is a Blue Whale the Biggest Thing There Is?” by Robert E. Wells – Explore measurement and scale with real-world comparisons outside!
Reflecting on Outdoor Math Learning
Sit Spot Math – Have students sit quietly in one place and observe the numbers around them. How many birds do they see? How many branches on a nearby tree? What patterns can they find?
Math Journals – Encourage students to draw or write about their math discoveries outside. What did they measure? What surprised them?
Math Talks – End an outdoor lesson with a group discussion at circle: “What math did we find today?” or “How did we solve problems differently outside?”
Take Math Outside and Watch It Grow!
Math doesn’t have to stay trapped inside four walls. Nature is full of opportunities to count, measure, estimate, and problem-solve—it’s just waiting for your class to step outside and explore. So, grab your clipboards, put on those rain boots, and let’s do some math in the wild!
What’s your favourite way to teach math outdoors? Drop a comment below or share your ideas with #TeachOutdoors!
