3 minute read
Junior School Kew
from Torch Spring 2019
by CareyGrammar
Mathematics is all around us
Jodi Haines Acting Maths Co-ordinator, Junior School Kew
All too often, mathematics is seen in a world of its own. Mathematics is not just a subject, but an important factor in many everyday decisions. Mathematics can help us to shop sensibly, read maps, buy the correct car, cook a delicious meal, remodel a home within a budget, or tell the time. Mathematics is a way of thinking, a method of solving problems and explaining arguments. Mathematics provides us with opportunities to see relationships and ideas in numerical, graphical, symbolic, verbal and pictorial form. In reality, mathematical concepts can be found in our everyday lives. Mathematics is everywhere! Mathematics was certainly alive within Junior School Kew during our wholeschool Carey Celebrates Maths Week. Students and staff were involved in a number of experiences across the week to delight in this celebration of mathematics, which is in its second year in action. ‘Mathematics is not about numbers, equations, computations, or algorithms: it is about understanding.’ – William Paul Thurston Monday saw students in Year 6 and 7 from both Kew and Donvale campuses came together for an action-packed morning of problem-solving. Their experiences involved thought-provoking activities incorporating collaboration, courage, communication and the sharing of mathematical knowledge. These activities encouraged students to use their skills to determine the answers to a range of problems in and out of the Middle School and its classrooms. The students then came together for lunch on Cluny Green before heading to their next activity where they worked through tasks such as anagrams, spot the difference and crosswords. The students were highly engaged and enjoyed the challenges presented to them. Thanks must go to Mr Quinn,
Mrs Partington, Ms Slaney and their teams for organising such a memorable experience for all. Wednesday and Thursday offered the remaining year levels an opportunity to be captivated by a live stage performance like no other. The Primary Maths Show was full of mathematical magic, mystery and mayhem. The show entertained and engaged students while
igniting their interest in mathematics. The students were astounded by Archimedes, The Amazing Maths Entertainer who used the power of numbers to control the mind, predict the future and reveal secrets. As part of the performance, students met famous mathematicians from ancient Babylon and Greece; famous women of maths; experts in estimation, shape and space; as well as champions of chance and data. The Primary Maths Show was highly interactive and left the students wanting to know more about the mathematical principles that were highlighted throughout the presentation. ‘When the performer was juggling, it looked like he was juggling two balls but he was juggling more, he juggled three balls.’ – Finn, Prep ‘The maths puzzle was really hard to figure out and nobody could work out the answer.’ – Freya, Prep Junior School students were also set class challenges to estimate and measure the height of the school’s flagpole, situated outside Metcalfe Hall. Each year level was given a set of formal and informal units of measurement. The Year 2 students’ informal unit of measurement was their classroom scissors. They went about viewing, predicting and finally calculating the height of the pole, which of course was a tricky task in itself, as a flagpole is not the easiest of objects to measure. One class from each year level was awarded a prize for the closest answer. The results of each class’s prediction and estimations of the height of the flagpole were as follows: Prep B: six Ms Skinners Year 1K: 10 Georges Year 2T: 153 pairs of scissors Year 3B: 9.5 metres Year 4D: 1227.7 centimetres Year 6B: 12,000 millimetres I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff for their support and their enthusiasm throughout the week.
