IT’S long been said numbers rule the universe. And there’s a corner of Plenty Parklands Primary School illustrating the many ways in which that’s true.
The Mill Park school has made a maths garden, using pavers, plants, patterns and sculpture to illustrate mathematical concepts.
The school’s maths co-ordinator, Sharon Kandell, came up with the idea, although she pays tribute to the school’s landscape gardener, Colin Sievers, for making it possible.
Concepts of measurement, multiplication, time, shape, angle and comparison are
illustrated throughout the garden.
A human sundial enables children to stand on the paving of the current month and tell the time from where their shadows fall.
One square metre pavers are measured out with centimetre marks, deciduous trees illustrate time’s passage, plants in lines and groups explain multiplication and a giant compass shows obtuse and acute angles.
Poles of varying heights and diameters explain averages and elastic between the poles creates different shapes.
Ms Kandell said she was looking forward to showing students how to use the garden before letting them loose. “I can’t tell you how excited I am to have seen it come to life,” she said.
“We’ll let the kids explore it for themselves at lunchtimes, but we’re also making up class activities for teachers to do with it.” She said the idea was born after a class won a sundial for a maths talent quiz.
The school wants to share the garden and invites other schools or kindergartens to visit.
