Maths in the Malls
Mention the MetroCentre
Gateshead, and your first thoughts do not immediately turn to mathematics.
However, that was what was on the minds of teachers and pupils when they
arrived at the interchange at
Using a unit of measurement
that we named the ‘Metrounit’, which is used in repeating patterns throughout
the Metrocentre on balustrades, the trail blazers were asked to estimate
lengths and widths to ascertain areas, amongst many other mathematical topics.
These included number work, collecting data, finding symmetries, identifying
shapes and problem solving. Maths was all around them, and yet many were
unaware that they were doing maths.
Teaching mathematical
concepts in this way engages and reinforces learning. It puts the ideas learnt
into a setting and allows time for those ideas to be developed without any of
the maths hang-ups which can occur in the classroom. By taking maths beyond the
classroom, we can best illustrate the connections between the real world and
what they are studying in school. In so doing students 
and teachers alike are
enthused by the wealth of resources they have all around them.
After
leaving Maths in the Malls many teachers went away excited by the prospect of
developing their own maths trails in their schools or local areas. The National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching
of Mathematics (www.ncetm.org.uk) has a
Maths Trail community on its website which is free for all teachers to join.
This community gives examples of trails and helpful advice on how to start
developing your own trail.
The maths trail will remain
in the MetroCentre for everyone to try and copies of the trail are available at
the Green Mall Information desk.
A maths trail also creates
natural links to many other subjects in the
curriculum, allowing staff to work collaboratively across the curriculum,
supporting and benefiting each other.
Why not inspire your pupils with a maths trail?
Maths in the Mall adds up to Fun