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Geometric Heart
A simple but fun maths activity perfect for Valentine's Day. Create a geometric heart out of squares and triangles, and learn about patterns, fractions and multiplication along the way.
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Games about mathematicians
Best suited for Second Level
The Parent Council at Anderston Primary School have created a series of games about 7 amazing mathematicians, including Annie Easley, Katherine Johnson, Maryam Mirzakhani, Florence Nightingale, Chika Ofili, Srinivasa Ramanujan, and Wang Zhenyi.
Each game should take around 20 minutes to play and can be done using the free Escape Team app or simply solved on paper (although an adult will be needed to check the codes are correct!)
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Maths Tales: Mathematicians from History
Best suited for Second Level
These very short games tells the stories of mathematicians from history. So far they cover: Sophia Brahe, Aryabhata, Al-Khwārizmī, and Hypatia of Alexandria.
Each story also tests relevant maths knowledge related to the person’s work. Most suitable for kids aged around 8 – 12.
Developed by Daisy Abbott from Anderston Primary Parent Council, for Maths Week Scotland 2024.
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Magazine Number Hunt
Dig out your old magazines, and challenge them to a magazine number hunt! See how many different numbers you can find, then sort them in ascending order. Or do a shape hunt instead and create a collage out of all the different shapes you can find.
Events Map
Browse our map for Maths Week Scotland events taking place near you.
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Maths Through Ceilidh
Best suited for Second Level
How can we use music and dance to explore mathematical concepts? Get your dancing shoes on and explore symmetry and data collection through ceilidh dance. These activities can be done with a whole class, small groups or objects on a tabletop.
The pre-recorded session is available for you to run at whatever time is most suitable to your class. The materials include a video and a set of lesson notes
Produced by Science Ceilidh for National Museums Scotland.
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Shape Mice
Celebrate Burns Night with our fun shape activity, in honour of one of Robert Burns' most well known poems, 'To a Mouse'. Cut out shapes of different sizes from coloured paper or card, and arrange them to create mice. What other shapes can you use? How about a pentagon or a hexagon mouse?
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Maths Tales RPG
Best suited for Second Level and above
This RPG game about maths in Ancient Egypt was developed by Daisy Abbott from Anderston Primary Parent Council, for Maths Week Scotland 2024. It covers various maths topics.
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Pancake Maths
We love baking here at Maths Week Scotland, and pancakes are no different. Find out how much maths is involved in baking, have a go at our fun maths facts activities, and download our recipe to bake your own yummy pancakes at home.
Schools
What do zombie crime scenes, fancy dress parades and baking have in common? They are just some of the ways schools have got involved with Maths Week Scotland. The options are limited only by your imagination!
Schools Map
Register to become an Official Maths Week Scotland School and add your school or ELC setting to our map.
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T.A.L.E.S.
Best suited for Second & Third Level
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.
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.
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Scavenger Shape Hunt
A scavenger hunt is a great way to get out and about AND have some fun with maths. Go on a Shape Hunt, looking for how many different shapes you can find in your neighbourhood. Why not document what you find and share your photographs with us online!
Learning Resources
Browse our learning resources from Early Years through to Senior Phase. Filter resources by Level and Topic.
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Roman Hackers
Best suited for Third/Fourth Level
This resource are aimed at lower secondary pupils was created for Maths Week Scotland 2021, and helps learners explore the role of maths in the hacksilver discovered from the Roman empire.
Watch the video to find out how Museum Curator Dr Fraser Hunter uses maths to uncover the stories behind these hacked up treasures. Learn more with our Roman Hackers resource (download below), which guides pupils to create and hack up their own silver vessels.
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Maths Makes Art
In a series of four videos, children demonstrate how mathematical principles including symmetry, tessellation and 3D shapes, can be the basis for a huge range of art and craft projects. Cubic chickens, cat portraits, stained glass windows, stencils, a birthday card for your granny…
The videos are made with children in mind, but are suitable for all ages - try for yourself!
Created by Anne McNaught and Johanna Hall
Edinburgh Castle Quest
How did maths shape Edinburgh Castle and make life within it possible? These activities are aimed at P5-7 pupils and cover aspects of Numeracy and Mathematics and Social Studies areas of Curriculum for Excellence.
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Maths in Motion: DYW Online Talks
Best suited for Third/Fourth Level
To celebrate Maths Week Scotland 2023, DYW Live held a day of live webinars on the theme of 'maths in motion', featuring:
- Professor of Mathematics talking about their journey to becoming a STEM Ambassador.
- Stream Marine Careers talking about the maths required to work at sea sailing on ships and boats.
- Firstbus explaining how maths is core to their business from ticket prices to timetabling to how many buses and drivers they need.
- A consultant for the energy sector will explain how maths is crucial to her work.
Replays of all talks are available to watch on the e-sgoil website.
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How to Play Tenzi
Tenzi is a dice game for two or more players, which is great for number recognition. You will need a set of ten dice per player, with a different colour of dice each. The basic aim of the game is to be the first player to get all of your dice to show the same number.
Cryptography Challenge
Five exhibits at National Museum of Scotland have been written in code! Can you use your code breaking skills to find out what they are?
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Ideas for Your Classroom
Best suited for Early, First and Second Level
We have rounded up some of the activities that have been shared with us by teachers on Twitter, for celebrating Maths Week Scotland in your classroom or school.
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Codebreak
Test your problem-solving skills and try to crack our secret messages using clues
Code Break is an interactive web app consisting of three ciphers: Pigpen, Caesar and simple substitution (solved by frequency analysis). Earn stars for each challenge, and learn about code-breaking through the ages by playing our interactive ‘Could you be a code breaker?’
Created by the Open University
Women in Maths
Women in Maths Day (12 May) celebrates female mathematicians around the world. We interviewed women for whom maths is at the core of their job.
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Pyramid Addition
Pyramid is a card game for two or more players, to practice addition. For older children, the same game play can also be used for multiplication. To play either version, you will need a standard set of cards with the face cards (Jack, Queen, King) removed.