Kung Fu Maths is a practical maths activity for reinforcing mathematical vocabulary. It can be carried out in a classroom or outside, standing up or sitting down.
Firstly, it involves four actions:
- Arms crossed, one horizontal and the other vertical represents addition.
- One arm placed horizontally represents subtraction.
- Arms crossed diagonally are for multiplication.
- Finally, one arm placed horizontally and then the other arm ‘punching’ once above and once below shows division.
The way I have used this is to reinforce mathematical vocabulary. I say a question to the class, for example, “What is the product of 2 and 3?” The class then respond by showing the correct sign, in this case arms crossed diagonally and call back the answer (6).
It’s a nice lesson start or end to a lesson, or even in the middle!