Stochastics in Children's Outdoor Play (SCOP)

The aim of the project is to analyse how children’s mathematics emerges in different play situations, especially outdoor play. The target group is 3-5 year-olds. The research question is how mathematical ideas with an emphasis on stochastical ideas (probability and statistics) emerge through children’s play outdoors, considering both free, child-led play and structured, adult-led play. What is the role of materials and resources? How do children/practitioners verbally engage with mathematical/stochastical notions? How do children manifest their mathematical/stochastical thinking? With which ideas do they spontaneously engage? How do these mathematical ideas underpin the play activity? And how does the play activity underpin their mathematical thinking?

We have data from the UK based on children’s naturalistic observations during their daily routines and outdoor activities. These are transcribed but not yet analysed. We want to collect similar data from Norway and Greece to compare those three countries with different curricula and educational systems.