School of Mathematics

Have Fun with Maths

This is a collection of resources for P5-S3 students. The resources focus on strategy games, and include explanatory videos, a range of puzzles, and some tips for teachers/educators.

"Have Fun with Maths" is a workshop we have successfully run in many local primary and secondary schools. 

On the occasion of Maths Week 2019 we have decided to make this workshop into a collection of online resources for schools, community centres, families or individuals.

The resources include some explanatory videos, a wide range of games and puzzles targeting different levels and abilities, and some tips for teachers/educators.

The workshop is suitable for P5-S3 students, and focuses on some strategy games. It is aimed at developing problem solving, as well as showing the fun and creative side of mathematics. The workshop also prompts to applications of Mathematics to the study of transport networks.

The games and puzzles do not require any prior mathematical knowledge, hence they are suitable for all ages.

Overview

The document below contains an overview of the workshop with tips on how to use the resources.

Explanatory Videos

You can access the videos clicking on the links below, and use them to guide you through the workshop.

Introduction
Video: Video 1 introduction
This is part a range of educational resources entitled "Have Fun with Maths". We explore some mathematical concepts by playing strategy games.
Rules of the Games and First Examples
Video: video 2 rules of the games and first examples
This is part a range of educational resources entitled "Have Fun with Maths". We explore some mathematical concepts by playing strategy games.
Game 3
Video: Video 3 game 3
This is part a range of educational resources entitled "Have Fun with Maths". We explore some mathematical concepts by playing strategy games.
Game 4
Video: Video 4 Game 4
This is part a range of educational resources entitled "Have Fun with Maths". We explore some mathematical concepts by playing strategy games
Game 5
Video: video 5 game 5
This is part a range of educational resources entitled "Have Fun with Maths". We explore some mathematical concepts by playing strategy games.
Where is the Maths?
Video: video 6 where is the maths
This is part a range of educational resources entitled "Have Fun with Maths". We explore some mathematical concepts by playing strategy games.
What's the Point?
Video: video 7 what's the point
This is part a range of educational resources entitled "Have Fun with Maths". We explore some mathematical concepts by playing strategy games.

The Games

The Shannon switching game is a strategy game for two players. The game can be played on different diagrams. Below are the general rules of the game, and a range of diagrams to play.

 

Transport networks

Below are some mathematical exercises in the context of designing transport networks.

 

Give us your feedback

If you have used the resources, please give us your feedback! It will be really useful when it comes to developing further resources for the future.

 

This project has been funded by the University of Edinburgh and Maths Week Scotland small grant fund.