End Of Term!

The summertime holidays are fast approaching. Although I'm a believer inwards didactics maths correct upwardly to the halt of term, it tin give the axe live difficult to learn a topic properly when lessons are existence interrupted past times sports day, assemblies, schoolhouse trips etc. But if nosotros don't deliver worthwhile lessons until the terminal solar daytime of term, as well as therefore nosotros can't complain when parents desire to possess got their children on vacation during term-time.

I'm non against the sentiment of watching a video or playing games inwards maths lesson, only let's brand certain our students are either learning something novel or becoming to a greater extent than engaged as well as excited past times mathematics.

My schoolhouse has a criterion laid upwardly of challenges, games, projects as well as investigations that nosotros role every year, only here's a few of my option suggestions for halt of term activities:

Fermat's Last Theorem as well as Pythagoras
Have yous read The Simpsons as well as their Mathematical Secrets by Simon Singh? It's a bright book. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 dainty halt of term lesson could involve yous explaining Fermat's Last Theorem (or role this BBC video to explicate it for you) as well as showing your degree how it features inwards the Simpsons (it's actually rather clever that Homer seems to possess got disproved it - inwards fact it's a 'near miss' solution - every bit explained past times Simon Singh in this video from Numberphile).

In this lesson your pupils could exercise approximately question into Fermat, or perchance other famous mathematicians - they could create a poster every bit suggested inwards this lovely activity from Interactive Maths.  Alternatively, they could await at related Pythagorean problems, such every bit proving Pythagoras' Theorem (which tin give the axe live done amongst Origami!), finding Pythagorean triples or investigating Pythagoras amongst other polygons.

BBC iPlayer is currently showing the Fermat's Last Theorem episode of Horizon - although the maths is rather advanced (it made my encephalon hurt!), it's an interesting episode as well as gives an insight into the operate of mathematicians.

If yous similar these Fermat lesson ideas, yous mightiness also similar my postal service on teaching binary which features to a greater extent than ideas from Simon Singh's book.

Pascal Investigations
Pascal's Triangle contains lots of amazing patterns as well as yous tin give the axe easily create total a lesson exploring them. Teachit Maths has a smashing PowerPoint as well as activity sheet for this lesson. In this short video a maths instructor briefly explains this history of the triangle. For older students yous could also innovate 'choose' musical note as well as link the triangle to binomial expansions.

Pi week
My colleague ane time had a Pi themed terminal calendar week of term amongst ane of his classes. The students all brought inwards cakes as well as pies, they watched Life of Pi (a lovely cinema only non mathematical!) as well as they did Pi-based activities including a Pi recital competition, a freehand circle drawing contest as well as making a giant Pi paperchain (a dissimilar coloring per digit).

If yous possess got whatsoever other creative ideas for halt of term lessons, I'd honey to demand heed them.

Inspiration

I was real lucky to encounter Simon Singh verbalise at the Maths inwards Action lectures inwards London terminal year. My schoolhouse took xx Year 12s to the consequence only this twelvemonth nosotros conception to possess got forty because it was such a bright solar daytime of lectures. I came away feeling inspired. I actually recommend these lectures, which are for both Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 flat as well as GCSE students.

Do yous know what makes the numbers on this jumbotron interesting?  Find out inwards this article.