Centre for Early Mathematics Learning
Charnwood Museum Maths Trail
The Charnwood Museum Maths Trail was designed to help very young children see that maths isn’t something that only happens at a table with a pencil. Created by the Centre for Early Mathematics Learning at Loughborough University, the trail is a series of simple, playful questions woven through the museum’s permanent exhibition. Aimed at children around five years old, it encourages them to look closely, move their bodies and make comparisons: stretching their arms out in front of a propellor to judge length, counting shapes on historic furniture, spotting patterns and talking about size, number and space as they explore.
Our role was to visualise the trail in a way that felt inviting, intuitive and genuinely usable by young children and the adults supporting them. Central to that was a clear, easy‑to‑follow map that guided families around the space without feeling rigid or instructional.
We developed a set of friendly illustrations that echoed the spirit of the questions themselves. Objects from the museum were drawn in a simplified, recognisable way, helping children connect what they saw on the page with what was in front of them in the gallery. The style was deliberately warm and informal, avoiding anything that felt academic or overly “educational”.
Ease of use was critical. Fonts are clear and generously sized and visual cues helped children orient themselves without needing to read every word. The map worked as a prompt rather than a prescription, encouraging discussion, movement and curiosity rather than right or wrong answers.
Throughout the design, we worked closely with the aims of the maths trail itself: to build confidence, spark conversation and show that early maths is about noticing and wondering. The result is a piece that supports learning without overshadowing the experience of the museum, helping maths feel like a natural part of exploring the world.
A small project, carefully considered, that turns a museum visit into a chance to spot numbers, shapes and ideas hiding in plain sight.
