Making Maths Count

I would drive 500 miles…

September 14, 2017 by Ali Floyd No Comments

I would drive 500 miles…   

…and I will doubtless drive 500 more!  It’s been a busy start to Maths Week and as I finally hit my couch at the halfway point, I’m blown away by what I’ve seen.

Monday morning started with a trip to Aileymill Primary in Greenock.  In spite of the week’s leader being under the weather (hope your face is getting better, Mrs. McGilp!) their immense programme was pressing full steam ahead.  The team from the BBC L.A.B Scotland were in, teaching the pupils how to make films all about maths problems – they’ll be tweeting their work as @BBCScotLearn so do check it out!

All of the triangles are green, for the benefit of anyone who struggles with different colours

Next it was  a jaunt to Grange Academy, Kilmarnock to catch up with Mr. Smith.  P7 pupils were (literally) running maths relays, while S3 pupils were fighting with the Maths Wi Nae Borders competition that Mr. Smith is (figuratively) running.

He is quite an enthusiastic chap!

There’s tricky maths and some is even in a choice of Scots or Gaelic.  A little tenacity (and possibly even Google, or a good old dictionary) will take you a long way!  Have a look at http://www.dsl.ac.uk/

I’ve also been lucky enough to see the incomparable Professor Adam McBride in both Glasgow and Paisley, where I’ve been inspired by magic squares and beautifully useless tricks, visited the International College of Mathematical Studies as they challenged pupils with puzzles, and popped in to see the fantastic team at the National Museum of Scotland present a math-tacular version of their Superhero Science show.

I have also seen the brilliant team at Forfar Academy’s maths department to see the Operational Research Society work with S5 pupils and, of course, the knitting grannies taking over lunchtime.

The lad with the bun is obviously cool.

My journey so far includes the University of St. Andrews.  Drawing inspiration from their amazing historical setting and archives, I got to go on a tour of the town and see letters written by Newton, Galileo’s own handwriting and a first edition of one of Scotland’s very finest scientists, Mary Somerville.

So I’m 500 miles down, have only managed lunch before 8pm once, but am loving everything #MathsWeekScot so far.  Keep up the brilliant work, everyone!

Comments