Math + Games x Innovation = Fun²

Description

Math is all around us. Whether we are shopping, cooking, painting a wall, or planning a trip, we are constantly making calculations, and estimates, and using mental arithmetic. Yet, because of how it is taught, kids often fail to make that connection and see math as a dry, boring academic subject only relevant at school.

This course is intended to inspire primary teachers to deliver mathematics in a practical and fun way, to captivate their students with the beauty and utility of numbers.

Useful for both those teaching math in English (CLIL) and first language math teachers, participants will acquire new tools and techniques to engage students in the world of mathematics, using games, role play, and interactive activities that go far beyond the textbook.

The course will highlight real-world relevant topics – such as healthy eating – using numbers and interpretation to equip children to understand how to make effective choices in these domains.

The course will also show how mathematics can be threaded through every subject, allowing theory to be taught through the students’ interests. This new take on teaching mathematics in English will allow you to deliver the curriculum through problem-solving, real-life situations, play, design, art, and nutrition.

Through group activities, presentations, brainstorming, and practical experiments, participants will learn how to provide engaging and innovative exercises and activities for their students. Once we start to explore the possibilities, there are no limits!

By the end of the course, participants will be well-equipped and confident to deliver mathematics in a fun and stimulating way. They will feel confident to create games, activities, and outings that will engage and inspire their students, whilst meeting their academic needs and your curriculum goals.

Please note this course is for primary teachers.

Concept by Iacopo Falciani

Learning outcomes

The course will help the participants to:  

• Create new teaching tools to deliver mathematics, adapted to classroom needs;
• Increase student motivation and engagement;
• Engage with students when teaching mathematics in English;
• Broaden their tool kit for teaching mathematics including the use of board games and excursions;
• Inspire students to create and play games that require mathematical skills;
• Potentiate creative skills to create role-plays, interesting physical spaces, and experiences for students to deliver mathematical concepts;
• Make mathematics visible, useful, and practical through real-life scenarios;
• Introducing diet and healthy eating through mathematics, illustrating the importance of what is written in numbers.

Tentative schedule

Day 1 – Introduction to the course and diverse teaching techniques

• Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities;
• Icebreaker activities;
• Presentations of the participants’ schools.

Diverse teaching

• Exploring learning techniques;
• Understanding why diversifying teaching methods is important;
• Introducing the concepts for the rest of the course: Real world, Play, Nutrition, Design, and Arts;
• Setting a personal project to develop throughout the week.

Day 2 – Mathematics in the Real World

• Re-creating spaces within the classroom that lend to practical mathematics activities (Shops, banks)
• Exploring our local environment through numbers (Bus timetables, temperature, time, altitude)
• Walk around the Academy to see where there are numbers, and work out different puzzles, meanings, and interpretations).

Day 3 – Mathematics through play

• Board games and card games;
• Creating our escape room for our classes.

Day 4 – Mathematics and nutrition

• Understanding how to obtain a healthy diet through interpretation of food labels and understanding the numerical concepts;
• Reading food labels: what are we eating?
• Cooking and negotiating together: how does it relate to mathematics?

Day 5 – Mathematics, design and arts

• Explore geometry through nature, landscape, and architecture;
• Presentation of personal projects.

Day 6 – Course closure and cultural activities

• Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion.
• Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance.
• Excursion and other external cultural activities.

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