Do the Math – on the Traverse Wall®

Integrating classroom learning and rock climbing is a great way to bring novelty and extra excitement to learning. We recommend partnering with a classroom educator who can help align the lessons with current studies. Here are some ideas to get you started climbing and doing math!

NUMBERS ON THE WALL ACTIVITIES

Materials Needed: Notecards, markers, magnets or dry-erase markers (depends on your Traverse Wall® surface type) to create numbers for on the wall

Advance Prep: Create numbers that will work for the activity of choice. Place them on the climbing wall next to hand holds. Place them high and low. Use magnets or write numbers if you have a Magna® Wall, Discovery® Dry-Erase Wall or Discovery® Blackboard Wall. Otherwise, tape notecards with numbers on them directly onto the climbing wall.

Activities:

• Climb using only holds labeled with certain numbers (even/odd, multiples of 3, equivalent fractions, etc.)
• Stop at each panel & add/multiply/subtract the two numbers next to the holds you’re using for each hand.
• Climb to & touch all the numbers in your phone number.
• Climb to & touch all the even or odd numbers.

Teaching Tips:

• Review the math concept(s) in the activity prior to climbing.
• Have climbers all move in the same direction. (No reversing direction.)

TOSS TO TARGET MATH ACTIVITIES

Materials needed: 

• Numbered bean bags or bean bags, masking tape and permanent marker
• Plastic hoops (for targets)
• Notecards or paper to label plastic hoops

Advance Prep: Put numbers that fit the activity on bean bags using marker and tape. Then rest bean bags on hand holds across the Traverse Wall, high and low. Create labels that fit the activity for plastic hoops. Place hoops a certain distance from the climbing wall, depending on ages/abilities of climbers. They will be tossing bean bags into hoops.

Activities:

• Label hoops: Even, Odd (alternating) and vary how far hoops are from the climbing wall to differentiate. Climbers will toss even and odd bean bags into the correct hoops.
• Label hoops: Less than/Greater than (Example <5, >5). Climbers toss accordingly.
• Label hoops: Multiples (Example: Multiples of 2, Multiples of 3, etc.). Climbers toss accordingly.
• Label hoops: Numbers in Real Life (Example: Number of pets you have, Number of siblings you have, How old are you? What grade are you in?). Climbers toss accordingly. Be sure you have numbered bean bags appropriately.

Teaching Tips:

• Review the math concept(s) in the activity prior to climbing.
• Have climbers toss only one bean bag per 4-foot-wide panel.
• Have climbers all move in the same direction. (No reversing direction for a bean bag.)
• Keep in mind that bean bags need to be returned to the climbing wall. Determine if climbers are mature enough to do this safely themselves, or if you need to do this.