A series of videos exploring our 'Maths Tales' theme, created by the Scottish Mathematical Council for Maths Week Scotland 2024.
Welcome to T.A.L.E.S. – Thinking and Learning, Exploring, Solving which is a series of videos exploring mathematics through tales and interdisciplinary links, created by The Scottish Mathematical Council for Maths Week Scotland 2024.
Scroll down the page of information to see the learning activities for each day.
Each video is accompanied by a brief description to support planning and preparation. Most suited to upper primary/early secondary – CfE second into third level.
The videos are created with a range of sections which feature throughout the week. This it to give learners different aspects to watch and participate in, whilst also giving a familiarity through having more that one episode of the same aspect. This is to allow children to have a format which, as the sessions progress, is one they are comfortable with the structure of.
Each video is approximately 20 minutes long, and, while we have created one for each day of Maths Week Scotland, these could also be used over a longer period of time.
Video 1: Monday
Cameron Orr gets things started by introducing Finn Finity – the Maths Week Scotland ‘Mathscot’. Darvel Primary School pupils share their research on Scottish Mathematician Shiela Scott McIntyre.
Next, Suzanne Stoppard sets the scene and hands over to learners from St Joseph’s College and St Andrew’s Primary, Dumfries, visit Moat Brae, sharing excerpts from J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, and invite you to try the mathematics linked to measuring shadows.
Finally, in today’s programme, we have, ‘Show your working’ episode 1 where Riccardo Corvi explains the link between maths and hairdressing.
Video 2: Tuesday
Jerry the giraffe and Finn Finity introduce today’s episode featuring another episode of Scottish Mathematicians, presented by Darvel Primary School learners, who share their research on Marion Cameron Gray and invite you to create your own Gray graph. In today’s visit to Moat Brae the learners from St Joseph’s College and St Andrew’s Primary, Dumfries, use Peter Pan to share links with time and direction along a with a challenge for viewers.
Today’s video concludes with Maths & Story :Episode 1, where we are taken on an adventure with Finn, a young boy who enjoys exploring maths in his local environment. He solves many challenges and puzzles along the way, all of which you are invited to pause and solve along with him.
Video 3: Wednesday
Jerry and Finn introduce us to a musical section we called, ‘Tales of Taylor’ where Darvel Primary School pupils look at how maths is integral in organising an international music tour.
We are then transported back to Moat Brae where learners from St Joseph’s College and St Andrew’s Primary, Dumfries, explore scale drawings and invite you to design your own Neverland map.
Finally, today sees Show Your Working :Episode 2, where Francesca McCluskie explains some of the mathematics involved in running a chiropractic practice. She invites you to participate in looking at and trying out angles in motion and symmetry in context.
Video 4: Thursday
The learners from Darvel Primary School share two Scottish Mathematician episodes today about William Thomson & Agnes Mary Clerke. This is followed by learners from St Joseph’s College and St Andrew’s Primary, Dumfries, looking at building with shapes to construct a Wendy House.
Today’s episode concludes with Maths & Story: Episode 2, Tales of Finn. There are magic squares and number riddles to ensure you help Finn find the real treasure before the end of his story.
Video 5: Friday
This year’s programmes conclude with a final Scottish Mathematician research presentation from Darvel Primary School, who tell you about John Napier and invite you to research and try out Napier’s bones. Then learners from St Joseph’s College and St Andrew’s Primary, Dumfries, ‘bring you on board’ with an episode about building your own boat.
We then have Jerry presenting today’s one off Maths & Story about the Towers of Hanoi, which features some Primary 7 pupils from Darvel Primary School on their residential trying out the ‘Tyres of Hanoi’.
The final part of the programme features Magician Scott Cuthbertson in Show Your Working. However, we could not have a magician with us – without sharing a trick. Be ready to be puzzled, dazzled and impressed.
The Scottish Mathematical Council would like thank the following people and groups for their help and hard work in creating these videos:
Pupils from Darvel Primary School;
Suzanne Stoppard;
Riccardo Corvi;
Francesca McCluskie;
Scott Cuthbertson;
Special Reporter, Jerry the Giraffe.
We would love to see and hear about your Maths Week Scotland activities, so please do share them with us on Twitter with the hashtag #MathsWeekScot, tagging in @scottishmaths and @mathsweekscot.
To celebrate Book Week Scotland, we are delighted to announce the finalists and winners of our Maths Tales story-writing competition, run in partnership with Read Write Count with The First Minister.
