Ever had students ask, "When are we ever going to use this in real life?" It's a question we've all heard! Sometimes, all it takes is a picture to help students see that maths isn't just about numbers in a textbook. It's happening all around them, from the buildings they pass to the everyday things they see.
Maths Photo Prompts
Maths photo prompts are a simple way to bring real-world problem-solving into your classroom. Instead of starting with a worksheet, display an interesting photo and let students look for the maths hiding in it. You might be surprised by the questions they come up with!
Take this photo of the iconic Sydney Opera House, for example. At first glance, students might simply recognise the building, but there's plenty of maths to explore once you start asking questions.
Here are three questions you could ask your class:
- The Sydney Opera House began construction in 1959 and was completed in 1973. How many years did it take to build?
- How many years has the Sydney Opera House been open?
- In which year will the Sydney Opera House celebrate its 150th anniversary?
These questions bring maths into a context students can actually see and understand. They can practise subtraction, work with dates and years, and explain how they arrived at their answers.
You can also take the discussion further by asking students to write their own questions about the photo. What else could they calculate? What information would they need? Could they solve the same problem differently?
All it takes is one photograph to spark curiosity, encourage problem-solving and get students talking about maths. Display a photo on your interactive whiteboard and see where your students' ideas take them!
