Matapas’ is a friendly octopus designed by Irish medium teachers to promote the skills and language of Mental Maths for Irish Medium Schools. This programme is about supporting our children to develop fluency and enjoyment in Mental Maths activities without fear and speed. It serves to:
- develop their mathematical thinking;
- improve their ability to talk about maths and develop their understanding of appropriate mathematical language;
- explain how they use mathematical strategies.
The visible tentacles of the character ‘Matapas’ represent the various strategies available to them. He shows the children that these strategies, just like his tentacles, can be used effectively on their own,or in a variety of combinations to solve calculations.
Here are his friends that help teach your children about these strategies.
Séamas Siar, Anraí Anair - Counting on and back fish
Orla Ordú - Re-ording fish
Seáinín Slánú - A Puffer fish who can change its size –rounding and adjusting
Fionnuala Flip - The inverse fish represented by a star fish who can turn around and still remain the same
Fiachra Factóirí - A big fish swimming and devouring numbers.His scales show factors of numbers
Scubaí Scaradh - A fish that comes apart but re-combines again
Cairde Coibhéisc- 3 little learner fish all linked by equivalence markings on their scales
and Fionn Feasa who emphasises throughout the resource the importance of knowing key mathematical facts to make new facts.
