Learning Media - Te Pou Taki Kõrero

Figure It Out

The Figure It Out mathematics series, developed for the Ministry of Education, has richly illustrated creative and practical activities that are set in interesting contexts such as camping, sports, time travel, and games.

To date, we have developed more than 80 books, not including te reo versions, focused on themes as varied as science, geometry, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, problem solving, and statistics. These resources, driven by research, strengthen the support available for the mathematics and statistics learning area of the New Zealand Curriculum.

Each 24-page book is levelled, is in full colour, and includes 10–16 activities, with linked copymasters and teacher support materials. The support materials provide explanatory answer keys in student-friendly language, detailed numeracy links, suggested teaching approaches, and extension activities. The series is also used to help students who are working below level.

Four books on mathematics in science contexts were published in 2010, including Forces, Sustainability, Energy, and Using Resources. Statistics in the Media (levels 3 and 4), published in 2009, encourages students to think critically about how statistics are used in the media – for example, in advertising, news, and sports reporting – and to critically evaluate information that is presented to them through these sources. As with all our resources, they are pre-tested with both teachers and students.

The series is distributed free to New Zealand schools. It is also available online at the Ministry of Education’s nzmaths website. It is used more than any other mathematics resource in New Zealand primary and intermediate schools.

“[Figure It Out] is an important component of the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy that focuses on clarifying the expectations for learners’ progress and achievement and developing teacher professional capability.”

The New Zealand Curriculum Online