Essex families are invited to enjoy free indoor activities and outdoor games across the county. The following activities are available as part of Essex Year of Numbers initiative:
Summer Magic Trails: (trails run until 1 September)
A magical adventure awaits at a selection of Essex county parks this summer. Children can count the fairies, unicorns and dragons hiding in secret corners of Essex’s county parks. The trail is available at parks including Belhus Woods, Cudmore Grove, Danbury, Great Notley, Thorndon, Weald Country Parks, and Cressing Temple Barns. A free activity sheet is available to collect at the participating sites or to download at home. Find out more on Explore Essex.
Read and Count with Me by the Sea (events run until 28 August)
Spend time outside learning in the fresh air, especially by the seaside! Families can join various ‘Read and Count with Me by the Sea’ events planned across the county. Borrow activity bookbags from all county parks and selected libraries.
Also available are ‘Read and Count with Me Under a Tree’ activity bookbags. The bookbags include stories and activities that help improve literary and numeracy skills. This will inspire a love of nature from an early age. Find out more about Read and Count with Me by the Sea on the Talk Listen Cuddle website and Read and Count with Me Under a Tree on the Explore Essex website.
Summer Maths Bingo Challenge: (challenge runs until 30 August)
Keep maths skills sharp and compete to win prizes with the ‘Summer Maths Bingo Challenge’. Available via the ‘Essex Year of...’ app, children can tackle a variety of maths challenge each day. The app is free to download and offers lots of resources, activities and games, perfect for rainy days!
For a full list of Essex Year of Numbers activities this summer, visit the Essex Year of Numbers website.
Looking for fun and educational ways to entertain your children this summer? We are offering the following advice, based on Bobby Seagull’s top tips from the ‘Everyday Magic of Maths’ launch earlier this year.
1. Many children enjoy following sport. This summer is a great opportunity to get them involved and excited about the Olympics! TV commentators often talk about statistics relating to performance. This will help children understand how closely connected maths and sport are.
2. Summer is all about having picnics and barbecues with your family and friends. Get your children involved with measuring ingredients to create some delicious recipes.
3. Have you got a summer holiday or day trip in the diary? Ask your child to help you map the distances, times and speeds. It’s the perfect opportunity to get your children involved in the planning stages. Get your children to help so they can see the numeracy skills needed to get from A to B!
4. With festival season in full swing, music is everywhere in Essex. One of the first ways children learn counting is through rhythm. This is a great way to recognise the patterns and sequences in music that are fundamental to maths.
Councillor Tony Ball, Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability at Essex County Council said: “The Essex Year of Numbers initiative offers a huge range of free events to keep the whole family entertained and active.
“By weaving maths into adventures and fun activities for children this summer, we’re encouraging a deeper understanding for numbers from a very young age.”
For more information and to access resources visit the Essex Year of Numbers website.