Big Idea
The idea behind this piece of work is to provide a structure for students which demonstrates that maths can be found all around them. It will help them see what that maths is and, by using photographs and pictures, encourage creativity. Using pictures to stimulate discussion and debate shows students that they can talk about maths and that maths is not always about right and wrong answers and written methods.
How to use the slides
The slides are designed for you to use as many or as few as you like and for as long or as short a time as you like. You might like to use them with your tutor group, in a maths lesson, another subject or even an assembly. The slides have been designed to be as flexible as possible. We suggest that resource A is suitable for years 5-8, resource B are suitable for years 7-10 and resource C is suitable for years 9-12, depending on the strengths and interests of your students.
Simply:
- Choose a photograph and display it
- Ask “Where is the Maths in that?”
- Let the ideas flow!
Aim to show:
- maths is all around us
- maths is creative
- maths is not always about being right or wrong
In order to promote discussion
- Emphasise – Nobody can be wrong
- It’s just about explaining your thoughts
Note: There is a hidden slide after every photograph with suggestions of the maths in the picture but they are in no-way exhaustive! They also range in complexity and so you may consider some to be beyond what you would like to use with your students. Use as many or as few as you wish. Some of the slides also contain links for developing some of the ideas into longer activities or lessons.
Ideas: Consider what maths is used to model the situation in the photo. What maths might the people in the pictures need? Discuss what questions the photographs raise in the students’ minds.
Going further: You might like to use your own photographs or encourage the students to provide their own photographs – especially ones where they think there is no maths involved and then the class can persuade them otherwise! You could print out some of the photos and use as a carousel activity. The students move around in groups with a few minutes at each picture to come up with ideas and then feedback as a class after each group has seen all the pictures.
Why not share that you have had a go at this resource? We’d love to hear how you got on – tweet from your school account and tag @Advanced_Maths. We hope you enjoy them.
These resources were designed as part of the AMSP’s support for Maths Week England.
