WORLD OF MATHS is a collection of mathematical problem-solving activities in the form of large, hands-on displays, taken to schools by a presenter. This service provides the schools with an addition to the curriculum giving accessibility to ‘non-routine’ hands-on problems which teachers would have difficulty accessing elsewhere. These activities reinforce mathematical concepts learnt in class and show how mathematics can be applied to ‘real-life’ situations.
WORLD OF MATHS also has a lot of entertainment value enabling students to have ‘fun’ while learning mathematics.
Session Info
The displays would be set up in a convenient area, such as a hall, library, double classroom, multi-purpose room, etc.
Session Times:
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90 minutes for Upper Primary and Lower Secondary |
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70 minutes for Lower Primary |
Note: Each session requires a minimum of 50 students and a maximum of 70 students.
Activities
There are seventeen large colourful displays in each session, (34 in total 17 lower and 17 upper/jnr secondary) with corresponding worksheets for the students, and an eight page booklet for the teachers, with answers and follow-on information. Each session caters for 50 to 70 students; (generally two classes) The students usually work in 15 to 16 small groups of 3 or 4 during the sessions. Year classes can be mixed. In fact, it’s a good idea to mix the youngest year with a slightly older class so they can help them when working in the small groups.
There are activities belonging to the strands of: number, space, measurement, chance and data and logical thinking and sequencing.
They involve two types of activities:
(i) Solving problems from a given situation, and
(ii) Guided discovery activities, whereby the students, after following given instructions, will discover mathematical concepts and ideas.
One of the most important parts of problem solving is to understand just what it is you’re asked to solve, so reading the instructions at each display is very important and questions on the displays make each session a guided discovery lesson, where the students solve a variety of problems, discover number patterns, identify geometric properties, think logically and apply mathematics to the physical world.
Each session is not designed for the students to be able to complete all the activities.
There are deliberately more activities than what can be done in the session time to:
(i) give enough variety, (to cover many topics and provide a variety of different styles of displays), and
(ii) keep all students occupied with no waiting time on displays.
By giving students this experience, they have an opportunity to acquire a variety of different skills and strategies needed for problem solving.
Specific Values
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Students have the time and freedom to pursue their own paths in trying to solve the problems. |
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Motivation is very important. WORLD OF MATHS is an enjoyable and attractive situation which encourages the students to think. |
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The students can experience mathematics related to practical and real-life situations. |
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It helps develops skills necessary to work in small groups as an effective way of learning mathematics. |
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It allows the students to interact, which will boost their confidence. |
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It promotes positive attitudes towards mathematics. |
Brochure Downloads
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