Maths adds up to a numbers game for pupils at Dalneigh Primary in Inverness
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PUPILS at an Inverness primary school took part in a special maths week with the help of local companies.
Dalneigh Primary School completed its first Numeracy Week before the Easter holidays with pupils learning about the importance of numbers in everyday life.
Leading the project were numeracy support teachers Keira Reid and Cat Kennedy.
Ms Reid said: “Covid has had a big impact and the kids
all had different experiences at home.
"Everyone has different gaps [in their knowledge], so this week is trying to help plug them.”
The overall aim of the week was to get children enthusiastic about the subject and help them understand that numbers are used all the time.
The teachers arranged for local professionals to come in so pupils could see how adults use numbers each day.
Pupils had a visit from Dr Evelyn Gray, part of the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) team at the University of the Highlands and Islands.
She led pupils in an exciting session using maths skills to
work out the size of different dinosaurs.
Staff from Yorkshire Building Society also taught pupils how to budget and plan their finances through their own “Money Minds” course.
Ms Kennedy said: “We’ve pulled it together to get kids engaging with numeracy and show the need to use it in their everyday lives.”
“We wanted to bring in visitors from the local community to teach the pupils so they can see how people they meet all the time use numbers daily.”
Pupils were also able to access an online maths competition from home, which ran throughout the week.
The teachers even organised a numeracy trail around the
local area so that families could get involved outside of school time.
Tesco Metro educated pupils on shopping and budgeting activities. They also provided pupils with snacks throughout the week and prizes for the competitions that were run.
The hope now is that the enthusiasm for numbers created during the week can be maintained.
Ms Kennedy said: “We want to continue enthusiasm for numeracy throughout the year and make sure that the interest sticks.
“The week has been important to get the buzz going and now we want to keep that up.”
The school hopes to make numeracy week an annual event.
