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Surfing Maths

Maths in surfing: practice repetitions

Count sets of practice moves as equal groups.

Quick answer

Maths in surfing: practice repetitions means counting how many times you repeat a move, like paddling, standing up, or turning. You can use equal groups to help count your practice sets.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to count practice moves as equal groups and use repeated addition or skip counting to find how many moves you’ve done. Success signs:
  • You can count 3 sets of 4 paddles as 12 paddles
  • You can use skip counting to find how many times you turned
  • You can draw an array to show your practice moves
  • You can solve a problem like: "If you do 5 sets of 3 turns, how many turns is that?"

Why this matters

Surfing uses maths in a fun way! When you practice moves, you're doing equal groups of actions. This helps you learn how many times you've repeated a move. It's like counting your steps, but with surfing moves. You can use maths to track your progress, plan your practice, and even win competitions. It also helps you understand how much effort you're putting in.

How it works

Counting practice repetitions is like making equal groups. If you do 3 sets of 4 paddles, you have 3 groups of 4. That's 4 + 4 + 4 = 12 paddles. You can also use skip counting. If you do 3 sets of 4 paddles, count: 4, 8, 12. This is the same as 3 × 4 = 12. You can use this for any move you repeat.

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you're learning to surf. You practice 5 sets of 3 turns. That’s 5 groups of 3 turns. You can show this as:
  • Turn 1, Turn 2, Turn 3 (that’s 1 set)
  • Turn 1, Turn 2, Turn 3 (that’s 2 sets)
  • Turn 1, Turn 2, Turn 3 (that’s 3 sets)
  • Turn 1, Turn 2, Turn 3 (that’s 4 sets)
  • Turn 1, Turn 2, Turn 3 (that’s 5 sets)
Now let’s count:
  • Set 1: 3 turns
  • Set 2: 3 turns
  • Set 3: 3 turns
  • Set 4: 3 turns
  • Set 5: 3 turns
Add them up: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 15 turns. Or use skip counting: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15. That’s 5 sets of 3 = 15 turns.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Surfing Challenge You are a young surfer on a special surfing adventure. You have to complete 4 sets of 5 moves. Your moves are:
  1. Paddling
  2. Standing up
  3. Turning left
  4. Turning right
  5. Jumping
4th time: You finish your 4th set of 5 moves. How many moves did you do in total? Answer: 4 sets of 5 = 20 moves. Try this challenge:
  • Set 1: 5 moves
  • Set 2: 5 moves
  • Set 3: 5 moves
  • Set 4: 5 moves
Add them up: 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20 moves. Or use skip counting: 5, 10, 15, 20.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Counting each move in a set, then counting each set again.
    Why it happens: Children may get confused about what to count.
    Fix: Count how many moves are in one set, then count how many sets there are. Multiply them or add them using skip counting.
  • Mistake: Thinking 5 sets of 3 moves = 5 + 3 = 8.
    Why it happens: Children might add instead of multiply.
    Fix: Use equal groups or repeated addition: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 15.
  • Mistake: Forgetting to count all sets.
    Why it happens: Children may get excited or distracted.
    Fix: Use a chart or count on fingers to keep track of sets.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child by:
  • Counting practice moves together, like paddles or turns
  • Using your own body to show equal groups: 3 jumps, 4 kicks, 5 pushes
  • Using toys or blocks to show sets of moves
  • Practising skip counting together: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15
  • Writing down how many sets and moves for a fun chart
It’s okay if your child makes mistakes. They’re learning! Don’t worry if they skip counting or get confused. Just keep practising and be patient. You can make it fun with games or songs.

Practice questions

  1. How many turns are in 3 sets of 4 turns?
  2. How many paddles are in 5 sets of 2 paddles?
  3. How many jumps are in 4 sets of 3 jumps?
  4. How many kicks are in 6 sets of 2 kicks?
  5. How many standing up moves are in 2 sets of 5 standing up moves?
Answers:
  1. 3 sets of 4 = 12 turns
  2. 5 sets of 2 = 10 paddles
  3. 4 sets of 3 = 12 jumps
  4. 6 sets of 2 = 12 kicks
  5. 2 sets of 5 = 10 standing up moves

FAQ

What is a set in surfing?

A set is one group of moves you do over and over. For example, if you do 3 turns, that’s one set of 3 turns.

How can I practice counting sets?

You can practice by doing moves and counting how many times you do them. For example, do 4 sets of 5 jumps. Count them as 5, 10, 15, 20.

Why do we use equal groups?

Equal groups help us count quickly and easily. If you know 4 groups of 5, you can add them or multiply them to find the total.

Can I use maths to track my surfing progress?

Yes! You can count how many sets of moves you do, and track your improvement over time. It’s like a fun scoreboard!

How does this help in real life?

Counting sets of moves helps you plan your practice and track your effort. It’s also a fun way to use maths while doing something you love!