Whether you’re a self-professed maths fan or the thought of sums makes you feel quite queasy, looking at how maths is used in everyday life is a great way to celebrate the subject and show children (and adults!) just how fantastic it can be.
To celebrate Maths Week London, taking place between the 22nd and the 26th of June, we thought we’d take a look at how you can bring maths to life by looking at how it’s used in the world around us.
1. Discover the diverse range of jobs which use maths
From pilots to animators, it’s amazing how many jobs use maths as part of their everyday routine! Looking at these exciting roles can be really motivational for children.
It’s also a great way to show that all elements of maths really are used outside of school – dispelling questions such as “when will I need to know how to calculate the volume of a cuboid in real life?” (although you may still struggle with this one in particular!).
2. Look at how it’s been used in the past
Exploring how maths has been used throughout history is a great way to show children how maths can be used to achieve great things, not all of which are necessarily related to the field of maths.
For example, did you know that Florence Nightingale was a keen mathematician?
3. Encourage children to think about how they use maths every day
From the time we wake up to when we go to sleep, we all use maths every day without even realising it.
Encourage children to think about the various ways they use maths in their daily routine, such as when calculating how long they’ll need to walk to the bus stop. It’s a great way to show them how they’re already an unknowing mathematician and just how important it is outside of the classroom.
4. Highlight the maths in your daily routine
Bringing other maths-specific activities, such as board games or playing ‘travelling with tables’ on the way to school, into your day is another great way to have fun while using maths – without necessarily realising it!
5. Get involved in Maths Week London!
To get involved in exciting free events, simply register on the official Maths Week London website. Here you can also discover a range of free downloadable resources, free events and take part in the Maths Week London Contest.
