Maths in the Real World Resource Pack
This resource pack pulls together digital postcards, as well as videos and blog posts, that have been shared over the last four years of our Show Your Working campaign.
For a few years now, we have been running an annual campaign called "Show Your Working" which aims to show that maths is everywhere and highlight the importance of maths in all careers - from athletes to artists, and from farmers to fire fighters. People from across different sectors were invited to share how they use maths in their jobs, with the examples being turned in to digital postcards.
This resource pack pulls together digital postcards, as well as videos and blog posts, that have been shared over the last four years of our Show Your Working campaign.
Show Your Working Digital Postcards
We have collated the digital postcards in to a pack, which can be downloaded via the button below. Jobs featured include:
- Accountant and Banker
- Anaesthetist
- Athlete
- Baker
- Chef
- Civil Engineer
- Curator
- Dietician
- Digital Content Producer
- Electronic Engineer
- Environmental Officer
- Farmer
- Firefighter
- Gardener
- Illustrator
- Interior Designer
- Marine Biologist
- Metocean Engineer
- Nurse
- Performer
- Performing Arts Teacher
- Prison Monitoring Coordinator
- Radiographer
- Ranger
- Scottish Football Association Data Manager
- Scottish Football Association Team Manager
- Tax Adviser
- Tour Guide
- Vet
We also love this classroom display that one teacher had created from print outs of the postcards and shared with us:
Recently put this up in our maths corridor. pic.twitter.com/1d6Ur1CbvR
— Emma Mitchell (@ollieindy) October 10, 2023
Show Your Working Videos
St. Johnstone FC
St. Johnstone Football Club shared a series of videos, showing how maths is relevant to different jobs within the club:
- Sport Scientist (Twitter)
- Safety Officer (Twitter)
- Team Analyst (Twitter)
- Head Chef (Twitter)
- Team Physio (Twitter)
East Renfrewshire Culture & Leisure
Five football coaches from East Renfrewshire Culture & Leisure explained how they use maths and numeracy in their roles.
- Football Coach Video 1 (Twitter)
- Football Coach Video 2 (Twitter)
- Football Coach Video 3 (Twitter)
- Football Coach Video 4 (Twitter)
- Football Coach Video 5 (Twitter)
Lifelong Learning, Dumfries & Galloway Council
The Lifelong Learning team at Dumfries & Galloway Council asked some local employers and employers about how they use maths in their day to day job.
- East Mains Farm, Kirkinner (Facebook)
- Whisky Broker, Creetown (Facebook)
Auchindrain Township Museum
Auchindrain Township Museum in Argyll & Bute also shared some videos of staff talking about the maths involved in their work.
- Thomas - Roofing (Facebook)
- Kathy - Measuring (Facebook)
Show Your Working Blog Posts
The following blog posts go in to more detail about the maths involved in some jobs.
Maths in the Real World: The Maths Behind Fire Fighting
The Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage in Edinburgh shines a spotlight on some of the ways that firefighters use maths in their work.
Maths and the Arts: Where Magic Takes Form!
Claire Doyle from 3Theatre in Edinburgh highlights how maths is important in all areas of the performing arts, including dance and movement, staging and lighting design, acting, costume design, and singing and music production.
Women in Maths
To celebrate Women in Maths Day, in 2020 we interviewed six different women for whom maths is at the core of their job, including a Textile Conservator, a Civil Engineer, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, a Lighting Designer, a Statistician, and a Professor at Glasgow University.
Show Your Working at National Museums Scotland
Staff across National Museums Scotland share how important maths is in their work, including a Curator, a Learning Enabler, a 3D Model Creator, and a Geologist. Some have also included extra activities for you to try.
Maths at the Museum: Contributing to Conservations
Also at National Museums Scotland, Ashleigh Whiffin, Assistant Curator of Entomology, talks about her work with the insect collections.
Further Links
Create Your Own Postcards
Show Your Working Campaign Pack
Show Your Working Highlights from Previous Years
Latest News and Events
Scottish Museums Day 2024
For Scottish Museums Day (3 October) we’ve rounded up some of our favourite activities from museums from across the country, from this year's Maths Week Scotland.
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Five border collies will take the lead in a series of online maths lessons created by the Royal Highland Education Trust. Find out more!
Escape Room Live Lesson: Find the Secret Lair!
Join us for this interactive online live lesson event aimed at upper primary and lower secondary students, hosted by Data Education in Schools at the University of Edinburgh.