Myths & Maths
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Tales

We have brought together 80 stories specially chosen to support the learning of mathematics. Of course, you are free to use others as well! You will also find about fifteen riddles and a few rhymes: these are not stories in the strict sense, but they come from the oral tradition and pursue the same educational goals.

How to search?
   On the left-hand side of the screen, filter by age group 🧒 and by type of story 🌀.
    The turquoise labels indicate mathematical notions.
    The coral labels point to strategies and skills, as well as situations and emotions involved in mathematical activity, illustrated by the story and its characters.
    The orange labels refer to transversal competences that are strengthened when listening to or telling the story, and that are useful for doing well in mathematics.

For each story, every label is justified by a short explanatory sentence.

How to proceed? Two possibilities:
   – Starting from a notion: select it and then choose an associated story.
   – Starting from a story: discuss with your pupils what is at stake from a mathematical point of view.

The Rascal and the King's Daughter

Fairy tale

Age : 10-12

time

strategy creative thinking problem solving self-confidence

communicate visualize in space

How many drops

Riddle

Age : 7-9 10-12 13+

logic the zero

model think

The Three Little Pigs

Animal tale

Age : 3-4 5-6

strategy

The Weight of the Statue

Riddle tale

Age : 10-12

fractions equations

problem solving error handling self-confidence

calculate

The mountain goat

Fairy tale

Age : 7-9

orders of magnitude

self-confidence

visualize in space

The Key

Wisdom tale

Age : 7-9

logic self-reference

critical thinking strategy error handling self-confidence perseverance collaboration

represent visualize in space

The two bear cubs too greedy and the fox

Animal tale

Age : 7-9 10-12

addition subtraction size comparison equality and inequality fractions convergence limits

problem solving

model think calculate

The rooster Kirico

Cumulative tales

Age : 5-6 7-9

scheduling classification

problem decomposition

The Story of Ommi Sissi

Cumulative tales

Age : 7-9

order logically

Six birds on a branch

Riddle

Age : 3-4 5-6 7-9 10-12

numbers

model

The Account

Fairy tale

Age : 7-9 10-12

multiplication

plan

And yet

Riddle

Age : 7-9

logic

critical thinking creative thinking error handling perseverance collaboration

represent communicate

The intelligent daughter of the farmer

Riddle tale

Age : 10-12 13+

logic

creative thinking self-confidence

think communicate

The Disciple's Share

Facetious tale

Age : 7-9

division equality and inequality convergence limits logic

think question

The Lyre Player

Fairy tale

Age : 7-9

logic probabilities

creative thinking error handling self-confidence

think

Dido's ruse

Tale

Age : 10-12 13+

geometric shapes orders of magnitude optimization

creative thinking self-confidence perseverance

model visualize geometric configurations visualize in space

L'Enfant

Facetious tale

Age : 10-12

recursivity

represent abstract and applied thinking visualize in space

The multiplication table

Nursery rhyme

Age : 7-9

multiplication numbers

The Farmer's will

Riddle tale

Age : 10-12 13+

division fractions prime numbers

problem solving

calculate

The Eye

Wisdom tale

Age : 10-12

equality and inequality multiplication

model

The Little Red Hen

Animal tale

Age : 3-4 5-6

logic construction planning

model plan order logically

The longest word

Riddle

Age : 7-9

dimensions self-reference

critical thinking

represent

How to fill the house?

Etiological tale

Age : 3-4

geometric shapes

creative thinking problem solving

model question spatial reasoning

The Wolf and the seven little goats

Animal tale

Age : 5-6

equality and inequality logic

critical thinking

The cutest little mouse

Cumulative tales

Age : 5-6

size comparison logic orders of magnitude

strategy

think

Man and his shadow

Wisdom tale

Age : 10-12

size comparison measures orders of magnitude

critical thinking perseverance

think

The Groumf Hunt

Cumulative tales

Age : 5-6

size comparison

creative thinking error handling self-confidence perseverance collaboration

represent communicate visualize in space spatial reasoning

The Eye of Horus

Tale

Age : 10-12

size comparison dimensions including part of the whole fractions convergence limits numbers orders of magnitude powers

problem solving

think calculate

Fair sharing

Animal tale

Age : 7-9 10-12

problem solving error handling

think

The Territory

Animal tale

Age : 5-6

size comparison geometric shapes measures

strategy

visualize in space

Two outputs for one input

Riddle

Age : 5-6

size comparison

creative thinking error handling self-confidence perseverance collaboration

represent communicate visualize in space spatial reasoning

The Hare and the Tortoise

Animal tale

Age : 7-9

equality and inequality measures time

perseverance

model calculate

The Gingerbread Man

Cumulative tales

Age : 3-4

count

visualize numbers and quantities visualize in space

There were five in the nest

Nursery rhyme

Age : 3-4 5-6

count numbers

problem decomposition

visualize numbers and quantities

Skeletons

Nursery rhyme

Age : 5-6

count numbers time

visualize numbers and quantities

The Intelligent Bride

Wisdom tale

Age : 7-9

logic

creative thinking problem solving

plan

Ten little dogs

Nursery rhyme

Age : 5-6

addition subtraction count

visualize numbers and quantities

Le Ouistiti

Fairy tale

Age : 10-12

geometric shapes

model visualize in space

The mountains of Calabria

Fairy tale

Age : 7-9

recursivity

self-confidence perseverance

communicate

The Legend of the Three Sisters

Legend

Age : 7-9 10-12

equality and inequality measures scheduling classification

creative thinking

Le Géant

Cumulative tales

Age : 7-9

recursivity

error handling

model think visualize in space

The Quick Thinker

Riddle tale

Age : 7-9 10-12 13+

size comparison orders of magnitude

creative thinking error handling self-confidence

think communicate visualize geometric configurations spatial reasoning

Grandpa and the turnip

Facetious tale

Age : 3-4 5-6

addition subtraction count

collaboration

visualize in space

The Legend of Chess

Legend

Age : 10-12

multiplication numbers orders of magnitude powers

calculate visualize numbers and quantities

Garbancito

Fairy tale

Age : 5-6 7-9

measures

visualize in space

The Three Goats

Animal tale

Age : 3-4

size comparison

strategy

model visualize in space

A Sheet

Riddle

Age : 7-9

geometric shapes

critical thinking creative thinking

represent visualize in space

The three scientists and the apple

Facetious tale

Age : 10-12

angles equality and inequality geometric shapes

collaboration

think visualize in space

The Mittens

Cumulative tales

Age : 3-4 5-6

addition subtraction capacity estimate count measures

model visualize geometric configurations

The Forest of the Century

Riddle

Age : 10-12

division including part of the whole multiplication numbers orders of magnitude

critical thinking strategy problem solving self-confidence

calculate

Half a chicken

Animal tale

Age : 7-9

construction planning

strategy problem solving perseverance

think communicate plan

Spell it out in two letters

Riddle

Age : 7-9

self-reference

critical thinking creative thinking

represent

The Wisdom of a judge

Facetious tale

Age : 7-9 10-12

size comparison

problem solving

think visualize geometric configurations spatial reasoning

Small and round as a penny

Riddle

Age : 7-9

geometric shapes

critical thinking strategy creative thinking perseverance collaboration

represent think communicate

Geometric shapes

Riddle

Age : 10-12

angles geometric shapes

problem solving

represent

La Cacahuète

Cumulative tales

Age : 5-6

size comparison scheduling classification

model visualize geometric configurations

The one that disappears when you name it

Riddle

Age : 5-6

logic self-reference

critical thinking creative thinking error handling self-confidence perseverance collaboration

represent communicate

The twelve animals

Animal tale

Age : 5-6 7-9

count scheduling classification

strategy

model visualize in space

The blind man on Baghdad Bridge

Wisdom tale

Age : 7-9

addition subtraction division powers

problem decomposition

calculate visualize numbers and quantities

The Peasant of Isfahan

Wisdom tale

Age : 10-12

self-reference

problem solving self-confidence

represent plan visualize in space

Papa Big-Nose

Fairy tale

Age : 7-9 10-12

problem solving error handling collaboration

abstract and applied thinking

The Cat and the Meat

Facetious tale

Age : 7-9 10-12

including part of the whole equality and inequality logic measures

model think

Count to ten

Etiological tale

Age : 3-4

count

creative thinking

question

City of seven bridges

Author tale

Age : 7-9

graphs

creative thinking problem solving

model think visualize in space

The Five Breads

Riddle tale

Age : 7-9

division fractions logic

critical thinking strategy problem solving

model think calculate

Oak carrier

Riddle

Age : 7-9

creative thinking error handling self-confidence perseverance collaboration

model represent think communicate visualize in space

Times of life

Etiological tale

Age : 7-9

addition subtraction time

critical thinking

model

La oca de Navidad

Riddle tale

Age : 7-9 10-12 13+

division optimization

creative thinking self-confidence

calculate spatial reasoning

Yes or No

Riddle

Age : 5-6

logic

critical thinking creative thinking problem solving self-confidence perseverance collaboration

model represent think communicate

A Bird

Riddle

Age : 7-9

logic

critical thinking creative thinking error handling perseverance collaboration

represent think communicate

The Hunter and the Nut

Wisdom tale

Age : 10-12

convergence limits probabilities time the zero

strategy creative thinking self-confidence perseverance

communicate