Title of project:
Develop Innovative Methods for Teaching Mathematics in Primary School

Code:
FD2122A

Supervisor: Dr F. Dragoni & Dr. M. Pugh

Project description:
1-The project consists in developing an extra-curricular mathematical subject or to be introduced in primary school, at all levels from Reception to Year 6.
The student will need to choose and develop the subject as a topic across all years, and design practical activities that will be used to teach it.
We will contact primary schools to find one willing to participate in the project, and the student will liaise with the school arrange to teach the planned activities to the pupils. It is proposed that these activities would take place during the week around March 14th (Pi-Day).
The student will write a report which discusses the mathematical content chosen, the design of these activities, along with reflection on the success of these activities and recommendations for improving them for future years.
Some possible subjects to develop could be:
– the idea of dimension, from Euclidean space to the fourth dimension (Flatland could be an interesting book to develop activities especially for the youngest children);
– functions, including sets, domain, basic properties of functions, etc;
– limits (extremely challenging);
– any other subject proposed by the student.
2-Alternatively the project can focus on develop innovative methods to teaching numerical skills and/or problem solving in primary schools.
In this direction some possible subjects are developing board games for advance numerical skills and problem solving or explore how to use sport and playing activities to strength the mathematical curriculum in primary schools across Wales.
Also in this case the project will consist in a first part where the student will need to get familiar with the literature and the Welsh math curriculum, a second part where she/he will develop specific activities, a third part where these activities will be delivered to a selected group of primary school pupils and a final part where the student will collect feedback on the activities delivered and reflect on them, implementing when necessary modifications.

Project offered as double module, single module, or both:
Double

Prerequisite 2nd year modules:
None

Recommended 3rd year module for concurrent study:
None

Number of students who can be supervised on this project:
1