While searching for a website to base my blog upon, I came across this great maths based website called www.rainforestmaths.com . It really stood out for me for a variety of reasons, especially the way that it can be tailored to suit the individual stage of the child. It’s been created by an Australian by the name of Jenny Eather who has created some other great websites for primary students such as A Maths Dictionary for Kids and Writing Fun.
I primarily chose the website as the basis for my blog because of its interactivity. Because of the nature of the activities on the website, students are able to work independently or within a small team to solve a variety of maths problems from areas such as number, algebra, measurement and space. The website is set up so students from across different stages can access mathematical problems that are commensurate with their ability. The website is also quite colourful in terms of its display, attracting students with its bright, primary colours and striking images. Rainforest Maths also has close links with many of the content strands in NSW Board of Studies K-6 Mathematics Syllabus, making it a useful tool for broadening understanding of concepts and also assessment.
As mentioned previously, Rainforest Maths can be utilised for all grades and stages. The activities on the web range from quite simple addition and subtraction operations for Early Stage 1 to more sophisticated algebraic problems for advanced students in Stage 3.
The language used on the website is quite appropriate for primary aged students. It possesses a good mixture of technical language, which allows students to learn the correct mathematical terms and everyday language which keeps the students engaged and allows them to understand the instructions associated with the activities. The language used is also handy for teachers as the activities are organised under headings that mirror the content strands in the syllabus. There are quite a few instances of alliteration within the website which serves to add further enjoyment to the experience for the students (e.g. count crayfish, subtract skinks, etc). The language is structured in such a way that it is quite procedural. Most of the language used revolves around providing the students with instructions on how to complete the activities. Another feature of the language used on Rainforest Maths is the continual referral to rainforest characters and vegetation. All the animals and plants mentioned in the activities can all be found in rainforests, making the website very topic specific.
The use of visual cues throughout the site is immense, with pictures and diagrams being used in conjunction with written text at nearly every opportunity. This really assists students in understanding what is required for each activity. This is especially evident when animation is used with rainforest animals to simulate addition and subtraction operations for example. The headings that are used really draw attention to the topic and are bold and colourful, really standing out to the student. Sidebars are used throughout the website to great effect making many of the functions easier to use. Rainforest Maths is an extremely colourful website. An abundance of primary colours are used to great effect and contrast well with the dark background colours. The overall effect is quite eye catching and engages the student well. One criticism of the colour scheme would be that it is a fraction too busy. Sometimes headings and instructions are difficult to locate and read as a result of the colour scheme and font that is used. This would especially be the case for younger students who may become frustrated and simply give up. Probably the most prominent section of the main page is the way in which the different ability levels are laid out. Using a rainbow theme, your eyes are instantly drawn to this section. Students would immediately remember which colour corresponds with their level, making it easy to use for next time.
In terms of using Rainforest Maths in a classroom setting, maths is the most obvious KLA to use. I personally would use it for an Early Stage 1 class to reinforce outcome NES1.1. Using the basic addition and subtraction activities, in groups of two or three I would ask students to work through these activities towards the end of the unit to demonstrate their ability to add and subtract independently. Activities such as count the crayfish would be perfect for this exercise.
Secondly, I would utilise Rainforest Maths in a HSIE unit for Stage 1. Using the money activity in the Stage 1 section of the website, I would link it to SSS1.7 in the HSIE syllabus in a unit about work and the value of money. By doing this activity in small groups, students would gain a greater understand of currency in general, allowing them to gain a broader knowledge in a HSIE sense of the value of different amounts of money.
I found the process of creating this blog quite daunting. I’ve not attempted to post one before, although I don’t consider myself an altogether novice in technology. Logging on and registering on the site wasn’t so bad, although I was pretty annoyed when I’d completed half the blog, saved it as a draft, and then couldn’t find it when I wanted to resume work on it a day later. I’m quite comfortable with the genre, especially the language that is used. It’s much more conversational, making a reply much easier to compose, because you can almost write in a stream of consciousness, letting your ideas flow. I think it’s quite a useful tool in a classroom setting, provided you do a bit of background work on what blogs are and how they operate on the internet. It would be pretty easy to establish one as a whole class, documenting the stages of learning that were undertaken during an entire unit. Perhaps one could be set up between two classes at different schools who are studying the same unit, with classes comparing experiences and findings along the way. In this context, I think the process connected well with the theory we have been learning about as I believe blogs are a very practical classroom tool and one that I plan to implement in my classroom.
