Funmaths Roadshow –Ian Porteous

Ian began his session with a presentation explaining how the Roadshow came into being in 1998 as a result of a joint initiative between the Liverpool Mathematics Society, the Mathematics Association and the Association of Teachers of Mathematics. The aim of the Roadshow is that participants, whatever their age, should from time to time have the experience of meeting mathematics in a non-confrontational setting in which everyone succeeds, the key words being enjoyment and challenge.

There are ten ‘boxes’ of 25 practical maths activities to challenge and interest all ages from primary to sixth form and two new ‘boxes’ are being created on applications of maths for FE colleges. Ian gave us ideas on how to run an event using the activities and talked about events he had organised all over the UK….but we were itching to get back to trying the puzzles! I am still trying to work out if, with six milk bottles, I can get an odd number of bottles in every row and column of a 5 x 3 milk crate.

Ian stressed how much satisfaction pupils gained from participation in a workshop and gave an example of one youngster who was motivated take up a career in mathematics as a result.

Further information of the project, including sample puzzles and information on how to obtain a CD of the complete set, can be found on http://www.maths.liv.ac.uk/lms/funmaths/intro.html