The (NCETM) actively promotes the learning of mathematics outside the classroom, believing it to be at the core of developing an understanding of the subject.
Learning maths outside the classroom website © National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics
A section of their website, Learning maths outside the classroom provides information, ideas, case studies and video clips which demonstrate how young people can learn maths skills and concepts through work in their school grounds, built environment and heritage sites.
NCETM emphasises that ‘Learning mathematics outside the classroom is not enrichment, it is at the core of empowering an individual’s understanding of the subject.’ It therefore needs to be planned into the curriculum from the beginning.
Steve Humble, NCETM regional coordinator, says ‘I like the idea of young people gaining “mathematical eyes”. Learning maths outside the classroom gives them eyes to see the world in a different way which will increase their understanding of mathematics.’
Professional development (CPD)
Learning maths outside the classroom offers four professional development modules for primary and secondary teachers. Ranging from planning units of work using the immediate environment of the school grounds, to planning visits in the locality, to wider issues such as assessment and family learning.
How does maths outside the classroom work in practice?
Framwellgate School Durham taught the concept of LOCI to their year 8 students through an active lesson in the school grounds. (You can access the maths outside the classroom website to gain lesson plans, video footage and whiteboard exercises).
Sixth form and year 10 students followed the Durham city maths trail (produced by Durham University), looking particularly for curves in the built environment. They collected a range of photographs and used calculators to work out a quadratic equation to model the shape of the Elvet Bridge. Back in class, they put their photographs into Autograph software and prepared presentations explaining how they had used mathematical processes to model different architectural curves.
Sunderland Winter Gardens, staircase and viewing platform © School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, University of Newcastle
Maths trails
Victoria Barnes, primary maths consultant for the Sunderland LEA, has used maths trails with many primary schools. Year 6 students from Broadway Junior School worked in pairs to develop maths trails around Sunderland Winter Gardens and Museum, focused on shape and historical data. The students took photographs and video footage so that others unable to visit the site were able to follow the trail in the classroom.
What are the benefits?
‘Motivation’ says Elaine Fisher, assistant headteacher at Framwellgate School Durham. ‘We have found that students remember much more if a new concept is associated with a real life experience. They can then respond better to exam questions as well as having a greater understanding of how maths relates to everything around them.’
Victoria Barnes explains, ‘Much of my work outside the classroom arose because I found that pupils had often been taught the maths skills, but they couldn’t apply what they had been taught. Applying their skills in the real world will be what creates a love of maths for many and will be what ultimately raises standards.’
Resources
More maths resources – using buildings and places
Learning maths outside the classroom website
Teachers.tv has two fantastic ‘A world of maths’ video resources –
Construction of an outdoor ice-rink
Barcelona’s big church
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