Suggestions for use: • What does this picture remind you of?
• Does anyone know what the yellow squares might be used for on a footpath?
• Describe what you see.
• What would the different surfaces feel like to walk on?
• What shapes can you see?
• How could you count the circles on each square?
• Is there a quick way of counting them?
• Is there the same number of circles on each square?
• How many circles are hidden in the bottom yellow squares?
• What other shapes can you see (irregular pentagons, triangles, hexagons)?
• Can you see any straight lines on any shapes?
• Can you see any square numbers?
• Can you see any other square numbers?
• Can you use maths words to describe what you see?
• Is the pattern on all the yellow squares the same?
Suggested Related activities
• Ask learners to look around when they are out and about to see what other patterns there are on yellow paving stones.
• Use the square block, identify square numbers or play a game e.g. join the dots (like the pattern on yellow square.) Develop your own pattern.
• Extend the pattern in the picture by completing the pattern in the clear area in the template attached.

Suggestions for use: • What do you see in this picture?
• Can your group make up a story/poem/draw a picture about this kind of shop?
• What would you buy in this shop?
• What is the name of the job a person does in a shop like this?
• When is this type of food usually eaten?
• Do you like to eat in this shop?
• What different animals does the meat come from?
• How many people are in the shop?
• What are the people doing?
• What kind of meat do you think the women might be buying?
• Why is meat kept in a refrigerator?
• What is behind the counter?
• Why do you think this kind of shop used has a mirror like this?
• What shape is the mirror?
• What time of year do you think it is?
• How did you work this out?
• What is the difference between the highest and the lowest priced offer?
• What could you buy with €10.00 in this shop?
• Why would the butcher say €9.99 rather than €10.00?
• Pick 3 things the women might buy, how much would it cost altogether?
• Now try and buy three things as cheaply as possible.
• How much would you save by buying 10 chicken fillets?

Suggestions for use: Children should be encouraged to read and discuss this short story in order to make sense of where the decimal point is missing.

Suggestions for use: Across the maths curriculum