Understanding Maths Charts For Schools

Quick Answer: Understanding Maths Charts are school wall charts that explain mathematical ideas visually, showing why a rule works rather than only stating it, typically through fraction strips, area models, number lines and geometric demonstrations. They support concept-based teaching across primary and middle school.

Visual Models Behind the Rules

Students who only memorise rules often forget them or apply them in the wrong place. Understanding maths charts tackle this by drawing the reason. Fraction strips placed one above another show at a glance that two quarters cover the same length as one half. An area model shows 23 times 14 as a rectangle split into four smaller rectangles, which is the same working as long multiplication, and later the same picture explains multiplying brackets in algebra.

Geometry can be shown the same way. Squares drawn on the three sides of a right-angled triangle make the Pythagoras theorem visible, a string wrapped around a circle and laid along its diameter shows that pi is a little more than three, and a parallelogram cut and rearranged into a rectangle shows why its area is base times height.

Which models appear in the set depends on the edition, so match the titles to the classes you teach.

Care & Handling

Hang each of the understanding maths charts beside the activity it explains, for example the fraction strips next to the paper-folding materials.
Leave space below each chart where students can pin their own versions of the model.
Keep the charts flat or loosely rolled, because creases distort strips and shapes that students compare by eye.

Applications

Introducing a new rule with its visual reason before practice
Correcting misconceptions, such as thinking 1/4 is bigger than 1/3
Hands-on follow-up with paper folding, strips and cut-outs
Maths corner and maths lab displays

Specifications

Subject	Mathematics concepts shown visually
Typical models	Fraction strips, area models, number lines, geometric demonstrations
Level	Primary to middle school
Use	Concept teaching and correcting misconceptions
Chart titles, size and finish	Confirm at enquiry

Why Choose LabEquip

Teachers often use these charts with hands-on material from the Maths Kit range, so students can build the same models themselves, and with the Mathematics (Upper Primary) Charts for practice topics. Orders go through the LabEquip contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why teach maths with visual models?

A picture shows the reason behind a rule, so students can rebuild the rule if they forget it and can tell when it applies. Models such as strips and area diagrams also help students who struggle with symbols alone.

How does a fraction strip show equivalent fractions?

Strips of equal length are divided into halves, thirds, quarters and so on. Laying them one above another shows that two quarters or three sixths cover exactly the same length as one half.

Why do some children think 1/4 is bigger than 1/3?

Because 4 is bigger than 3. A fraction strip shows the opposite: dividing the same whole into more parts makes each part smaller, so a quarter is smaller than a third.

How does an area model help with multiplication?

It splits each number into tens and ones and draws a rectangle for each pair of parts. For 23 times 14 the four areas are 200, 80, 30 and 12, which add up to 322. The same method later multiplies algebraic expressions.

How can the Pythagoras theorem be shown visually?

Draw squares on each side of a right-angled triangle with sides of 3, 4 and 5 units. Counting unit squares gives 9 plus 16 equals 25, so the areas on the two shorter sides add up to the area on the longest side.

How is pi shown on a chart?

By comparing a circle’s circumference with its diameter. For any circle the circumference is a little over three times the diameter, and that ratio, about 3.14, is called pi.

Last Updated: September 2026