Scottish Mathematical Council: Maths in Motion
Shape Scavenger Hunt
Best suited for Early, First and Second Level
A scavenger hunt is a great way to get out and about and have some fun with maths. Go on a Shape Hunt outdoors, looking for how many different shapes you can find. Why not document what you find and share your photographs with us online!
Numerical Doodles
Numerical doodles are a fun way for children to gain more confidence in recognising and naming numbers. Older learners can also still have fun getting creative. Try your hand at recreating our doodles, or create your own - what can you turn each number in to?
Scottish Mathematical Council: T.A.L.E.S.
Shape Mice
Best suited for Early, First and Second Level
Celebrate Burns Night with this 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?
Triangle Puzzle Brain Teaser
In this video, we show you how to make a fun geometric brain teaser. You will need a square piece of paper, a ruler, a pencil, and a pair of scissors. Then find a willing volunteer to solve the puzzle. It's not as easy as it looks!
Maths Code Game
Best suited for First and Second Level
For Maths Week Scotland 2019, Anderston Primary School in Glasgow created a Maths Code Game that you can play at school or at home, no matter where you live. You will need a mobile phone with the free Escape Team app installed.
Access the game, some maths trails to do locally in Glasgow, plus tips on how to create your own, via the Anderston Primary School website below.
Funding for the trails came from the Maths Week Scotland Small Grants Fund. Content for the day developed by school staff with support from the Parent Council.
Lego Symmetry Puzzles
Puzzles are a fun way to learn about symmetry, and you can make your own out of Lego bricks and a base board. For younger kids, use Duplo bricks and simple patterns, for older kids use regular Lego bricks and make the patterns more challenging.
Learn with Will
Online Talk: Environmental Statistics
Best suited for First and Second Level (age 5 - 11)
When we build wind farms, what happens to the wildlife? In this interactive talk, statistician Katherine Whyte looks at how we can use maths and statistics to help us balance the benefits of wind energy with the risks posed to ocean wildlife like seals and seabirds. Where were the animals before we built the wind farm, and how many were there? How many animals leave when a wind farm is built, and do they come back? What do animals do when they are near a wind farm, and can they still find enough food in the sea?
Statistics is an important tool in helping us to answer these questions, and helping us make decisions that are both good for the planet and good for our local wildlife.
Part of the Royal Statistical Society's William Guy Lecture Series
Maths War Card Game
Maths War is a great little game to practice different kinds of maths skills, including number values, place value, addition and multiplication. All you need is one of two packs of regular playing cards, with the face cards (Jack, Queen, King) removed.
Science Ceilidh
Maths Through Ceilidh
Tower of Hanoi
Time to get your scissors & paints out to create your own Tower of Hanoi puzzle - and then of course you'll have to solve it! But don't worry, we've included the solutions at the end of the video. You can try it with 3, 4 or 5 discs.
Sumdog Times Tables Pack
Best suited for First and Second Level
A good understanding of times tables, and the ability to recall them quickly, is an essential foundation for children’s learning. So at Sumdog, we've made all our practice tools fun and engaging!
Download our free Times Tables pack to access our Pathway to Multiplication Success, lesson plans and times tables cards to use during Maths Week Scotland.
Active Times Table Challenge
Best suited for First and Second Level
Make learning fun by working together in your classroom or at home to get a high score in physically active times tables.
- Copy the presenter's actions while chanting times tables
- Solve the on-screen challenge quiz questions correctly for more points
- Easy to use 10-minute sessions, ideal for a lesson starter or practising at home
Geometric Dot Grid Drawings
Pencils at the ready! Using dot grid paper to create pictures, connect adjacent dots vertically, horizontally or diagonally to create geometric drawings.
If you don't have any dot grid paper, you can download and print off some for free via the link below. Or you can use graph paper and connect the corners of the squares instead.
#ShowYourWorking at National Museums Scotland
Pyramid Addition & Multiplication
Best suited for First and Second Level
Pyramid is a card game for two or more players. The video shows Pyramid addition, but the same game play can be used for multiplication. For either version, you will need a standard set of cards with the face cards (Jack, Queen, King) removed.
Numberella Interactive Adventure
Join Numberella, Ronnie Resist, Miss A Go and The Thief in an exciting interactive adventure that will take you deep into the jungle of the lost world of Meravilium. Use your maths skills to help the adventurers outwit the mysterious talking creatures who guard the great pyramid… and help them discover the secrets that lie inside!
There are two difficulty levels to choose from, one for the 7-10 age group and one for the 11-14 age group. Everyone who completes the adventure wins a certificate!
Maths at National Museums Scotland
Shut the Box
Best suited for First & Second Level
Shut the Box is a dice game for two or more players, and is great for encouraging number recognition and practicing addition and number bonds. It can be played with standard playing cards instead of the traditional box.