The Brief:
To design a project that engaged the whole of year 8 in the practical application of Maths in a creative way.
The result: A UFO crash landing site, cornered off from the public and other students, surrounded in polythene and labels. It was as if Coventry had its own Sci-Fi version of CSI.
Each student was given a booklet of data with problems and tasks for the day, along with a protective white suit, face-mask and shoe covers so as not to contaminate the evidence.
Over the years Highly sprung have become interested in the fact that children and young people are becoming disillusioned with the traditional approach to Maths, with many not able to see the reason why Maths is so very important to their everyday lives.
Armed with games, scenarios and themes the creative team at Highly Sprung have devised a way of accessing students
potential in Maths through practical application, without many of them even realizing it:
“What we’ve been doing today, has it been Maths?.... Ah wicked!” (Yr 8 Student)
So the eternal question: ‘How can you fit creativity into a numeracy hour?’
Sarah the Co-Artistic Director of Highly Sprung tries to decipher the process:
“The approach for secondary and primary has been very similar with only the level and style of Maths and themes differing. Structured and focused play is the main aim. By allowing the students to discover Maths theories for themselves through play they gain a better understanding of ‘WHY’. Maths is all around us and dictates our lives in so many ways. When students discover the ‘Rules of Maths’ for themselves and try to challenge them that’s when they truly start to understand their learning”