Maths, maths everywhere!

This is an aptly named project as there is a trend in Lancashire, if not nationally, where schools all seem to have realised that its time to become more creative in their approaches to delivering numeracy. I'm hoping that this is because the learning from the recent mass of literacy based projects has been successfully disseminated, making those approaches the norm in every classroom!

Anyway, this year I find myself working in three Creative Partnerships enquiry schools all exploring numeracy. I love the diversity of my job so to be honest, working in the same area of enquiry in three schools didn't thrill me at first. Lesson learnt though - they're all going to be completely different and really I should have known that from previous experience! Context is everything!

The first project got underway last week with a fabulous launch day, during which 70 year 3 pupils from a large urban primary school visited Reedy's Naturally, where they found out about business enterprise and food production - and it was fantastic to see the children enjoying themselves so much at the same time as realising just how integral maths is to daily life when running a business. There were three areas of the unit to explore - each with different activities and aspects of numeracy:

In the kitchen they made jam tarts!
Numeracy links: multiplication/doubling: of recipe ingredients, measuring and weighing...



In the warehouse they explored packaging and logistics of transporting jam jars and boxes throughout the north west. This included packing as many different sized boxes into an estate car as possible without crushing any!
Numeracy links: Estimating and problem solving, counting, exploring shapes and space, multiplication (3 and 4 times tables)...

In the office they dealt with orders - receiving phone calls and emails from mystery customers (you'll never guess who got that job!)
Numeracy links: data handling, subtraction, problem solving...



In the next few weeks Lisa be going into school to help the pupils research and design their own jam which they will then sell throughout the school. They will also be working with a musician who will be helping them to compose a jingle to advertise the jam as well as exploring the links between music and maths. As if that's not enough, they'll also spend time with a dancer and visual artist exploring triangular connections between numeracy, topic based learning (Birds and the Ancient Greeks respectively) and the practitioner's art form. As always, this project is closely centred around building teaching skills and confidence so that these techniques and approaches can be sustainable in the future.
Numeracy links: fractions, multiplication, sequencing, measurement, shape and tessellation

The numeracy links are not exhaustive but give you a flavour of the ways in which the project will highlight the value and necessity of understanding and using numeracy in daily life. In additions to numeracy, this project will offer an insight into business and enterprise as well as a variety of different creative career paths which may well inspire the children into the future!