School Visits: Hands On Maths Roadshow

As part of our intention to promote the enjoyment of mathematics, we have developed a Hands-On Maths Roadshow. The Roadshow is a collection of hands-on mathematical puzzles, games and activities that can be brought by our Schools Liaison Officer, Susan Hickman Pinder, to schools for a special maths event.

The Roadshow can be tailored to suit various age ranges, from KS1/2, KS2/3 or KS3/4. There are activities for all abilities. It has catered for children from nursery to year 9 (3 year olds - 13/14 year olds) with year 10 or year 12 helpers (14/15 or 16/17 year olds).

Roadshow activities are designed to promote creative approaches to mathematics and strategic thinking and to stimulate mathematical curiosity (click here for more detail on the pedagogical thinking behind the Roadshow). Many of the activities are taken from ideas on the NRICH website translated into physical form - this also allows teachers to continue to use the website as a source of follow-up activities.

 

About the Roadshow format

School-day sessions take the form of groups of about 30 children at a time coming to the Roadshow for a 30-60 minute session, depending on age and ability, with individual, pair or group activities and a short 'debriefing' session at the end of the period to consolidate what they have learned.

The Roadshow is also suitable for summer schools, weekend and evening events. The presence of a teacher is required for each session and inviting parents can also often be a good idea, as well as an enjoyable way of them sharing in their child's experience of a maths event.

The Hands On Maths Roadshow has also formed the nucleus of the Hands-On Maths Fair which is extremely popular as an event on both Saturdays of the Cambridge Science Festival during National Science Week (usually at the end of March) in Cambridge, and which we have also now run in five shopping centres in locations across the UK (including St Albans, York, Hertford and the Metro Centre in Gateshead) to attract the general public. During National Science Week we usually attract 1,000+ visitors to each full-day event. Families come with both older children and toddlers, together with their parents, and often stay for several hours playing with different mathematical games and exploring new concepts - in fact it can be very difficult to get the children to leave at the end of the day!

 

Costs and booking

The fee for a Roadshow visit is £550 for a full day or £385 for a half day, plus travel costs. This fee can be reduced at our discretion for schools whose financial circumstances make a lower charge appropriate - discuss the details of your individual situation with us at the time of making a provisional booking or enquiry. For more information or to make a provisional booking download the attached leaflet and booking form or email Susan Hickman Pinder .

 

Feedback from schools

"Just a big thank you for [the Roadshow visit]. The girls were so inspired. The feed back from them is fantastic. It's got girls from all years talking. ...I have been telling everyone about the road show. ...We would definitely like you to come again next autumn."

Maths Teacher, Simon Langton School for Girls, Canterbury, Kent

 

"It was great to finally meet you and to see how the Roadshow works. It went really well and the feedback's all been very positive, so huge thanks! Looking forward to seeing you in a year."

Maths Teacher, Valentines High School, London

 

"Thanks very much for another excellent visit from the roadshow. Everyone, especially the primary schools, was really enthusiastic about the whole experience. I would like to confirm the date for next year's visit ... "

Maths Teacher, Lady Margaret's School, London

 

"Many thanks for the Road Show on Friday - the children loved it as did the staff!"

Maths Teacher, Barton Court Grammar School, Canterbury, Kent