Inquiry into Math

How often do we see or hear our students talking about or using mathematical vocabulary in their daily lives? They eagerly discuss their shopping sprees, use numbers to talk about how many, compare objects in terms of how long or short, heavy or light and sort items by different attributes that they identify. This is all them developing the skills, vocabulary and understanding of mathematical concepts and knowledge that they will apply in their daily lives.
What better way to do this than to create and integrate meaningful, real life experiences, that will enable them to make connections and apply their learning in a way that makes sense to them.  Creating stunning designs using pattern blocks or shapes, measuring a bean plant that they planted and cared for, gather information of what they like to eat best and compare results through pictographs, use their number skills to count how many are in class today or which number is greater 12 or 22, using counters.  There are so many things that we as teachers can do to make this happen.
Here are a few photos of my students engaging in maths learning activities.