Primary schools from the Wimborne area gathered at Allenbourne Middle School for a Maths Activity day. Pamphill First School pupils sit in the pyramids they had created.
Hundreds of eight and nine year-olds dedicated a whole day to maths problem solving in a fun factored event hosted by Wimborne Academy Trust.
Year 4 children from first schools across the area attended the event to get a taste of what maths at a higher level is like – and just as importantly – how fun it can be.
Run by nationally acclaimed mathematician, Angela Gould, the event saw the children tackle a series of maths puzzles, from creating jigsaw puzzles to building paper pyramids.
CEO of Wimborne Academy Trust, Liz West, said: “It was fantastic to see so many children attend our two middle schools for this event.
“It provided all children with an invaluable opportunity to work collaboratively with their peers and use their problem solving strategies to tackle a variety of investigative challenges.”
The maths activity day was designed to raise motivation and attainment by giving the children enriching, yet challenging, numeracy to do.
Each task was directly linked with work in the classroom, focussing on improving problem solving and mathematical thinking skills.
Working in groups of four, the children undertook numeracy puzzles, made shapes such as pentagons and solved fractions, decimals and percentages.
They also participated in a maths trail, tackling 10 maths challenges on the way.
The event culminated with the building of pyramids using 64 sheets of paper – and making them big enough for the children to sit in.
Primary schools from the Wimborne area gathered at Allenbourne Middle School for a Maths Activity day. St John’s First School pupils with parts for their pyramid.
Angela Gould, Director of Building Motivation and Attainment in Maths, said: “I was delighted to be working with so many teachers and Year 4 children at these events.
“It’s terrific to see the children so enthusiastic for mathematics, engaging in a wide range of maths activities to improve their thinking skills and raise their classroom attainment.”
ENDS
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