Simmons, Nicola2015-04-102015-04-102006-6ACE papers, Issue 17: Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, Paper 8.http://hdl.handle.net/2292/25163These ACE working papers were a publication of the Auckland College of Education and the last of these was produced in 2006.This paper explores a number of issues relating to mathematics within children’s play experiences in early childhood settings. In particular, what makes mathematical experiences both meaningful and purposeful is considered within the framework of play, as promoted by Te Whariki. In doing so both traditional/instructional and investigative teaching/learning approaches to mathematics and related theories of learning will be briefly examined.enItems in ResearchSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. Previously published items are made available in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htmTechnical Reporthttp://purl.org/eprint/accessRights/OpenAccess