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Table 3 Example activities from professional learning day

From: Rationale and study protocol of the EASY Minds (Encouraging Activity to Stimulate Young Minds) program: cluster randomized controlled trial of a primary school-based physical activity integration program for mathematics

Mathematics content

Movement-based lesson

Using an Empty number line

• Students are encouraged to use a number line drawn in chalk outside and utilise the jump strategy.

• Present the students with a number problem. E.g. 8000–673.

• Students should try to complete the number line in the most efficient way.

• Assign each “jump” a physical activity. Students can create their own movement

• 1000 = Squat, 100 = jump, 10’s = lunge, 1’s = bottom kicks.

• In this case the answer would be 7327. Students would perform 7 squats, 3 jumps, 2 lunges and 7 bottom kicks.

Students can be presented with a series of operations and be encouraged to use an empty number line.

Multiplication and Division

• Students will throw up to 5 bean bags on to a numbered target. They add up the total. They then divide the total by the number thrown. This will give the mean score.

• Each child throws two bean bags on to the target. They then roll the 20 sided dice and multiply the number rolled by the total score.

• Children should be encouraged to estimate their answer and record before actually working out.

Recognising Factors, multiples and prime numbers

• Arrange numbered flexi domes throughout the area with the numbers in random order

• Students run/skip/hop/side gallop etc. to the flexi dome applicable when the scenario is given.

• What is one factor of 40? Repeat this question but change the number e.g. 75, 16, 84 etc.

• Show me a factor of 24, and then hop to the pair of the

• Find multiples of the number 3.

• Find a prime number.

Three Dimensional Space

• Identify and describe the properties of three dimensional objects, for example number of faces, apex of a pyramid, number of edges etc.

• Teachers can ask “How many vertices does a cube have?”

• Students are to answer by skipping the required amount to answer the question. Students can ask each other and work in pairs.

Two Dimensional Space

Netball court or other marked pitch.

• Working in small groups students are to classify all shapes they can identify on a netball court.

• Students are to then draw and measure all key parts.

• Students need to include length, width, radius, diameter, circumference, semi-circle and diagonals.

• Using appropriate scale students are to draw an accurate scaled diagram