This week the children were given a glass of fruit loops to sort.  WE also had coloured strips cut up to match the colours of the fruit loops in the centre of the table.  The children had to sort the fruit loops onto the coloured strips.  They managed to sort the fruit loops in different ways.  Some children got one of each coloured strip from the beginning and sorted all the colours as they went.  Some children chose one colour and completed all that colour before going on to the next colour.  Both ways are efficient.  Teachers could have set this activity up for the children to complete, however it is better to provide the materials and let the children do the setting up for themselves.  The idea of ‘making the maths messy’ is so the children have to THINK about how they are going to tackle the task.