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Tantalizing Starters
Tantalizing Starters
Spark interest
Spark interest
Did you know ...
There are 17 ways to write the number 17 as a sum of primes.
Six Weeks = 10×9×8×7×6×5×4×3×2×1 seconds
12 + 3 - 4 + 5 + 67 + 8 + 9 = 100
Mathy facts like those shown above can spark interest and prompt investigation with mathematical ideas.
Find more examples on many websites such as these ones:
40 Facts About Numbers That Will Make You Feel Like a Mathematical Genius
A challenge...what sort of mathy facts can you dream up to share?
Other starters might be geometry or logic puzzles. Check out the offerings from the following authors and you may end up buying a book or two. We sure enjoy these authors!
Alex Bello's Monday Puzzle on The Guardian
Catriona Shearer's Twitter Feed
Ed Southall's Twitter Feed
Think Maths Puzzles
Math with Bad Drawings
Math Read-Alouds
Math Read-Alouds
Engage with Literature
Engage with Literature
There's nothing like a good story that has mathematics as part of its plot.
When was the last time someone read aloud to you? Remember how good it felt?
Build your math library by adding some of the books found on these websites:
40 Children’s Books That Foster a Love of Math
54 Top-Rated Educational Math Books for Children
Denise Gaskins' Let's Play Math List of Living Books
These lists are not exhaustive. Please let us know if you have a link for us to share here.
Our favourites?
Our favourites?
For the "just beginning to read" crowd:
123 vs ABC by Mike Boldt
For the younger set:
The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns
For the middle set:
The Number Devil by Hans Magnus Enzensberger
For the older set:
The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa
Starting with a Video/Podcast to "get your math on" is also encouraged; it is a great way to spark interest.
Starting with a Video/Podcast to "get your math on" is also encouraged; it is a great way to spark interest.
We especially like the videos/podcasts:
Ed Southall posted this bit of fun in May, 2020.
Ed Southall posted this bit of fun in May, 2020.
The mathematicians featured below are great resources for math play - such great sports, all of them!
Mathematicians and maths educators in order of appearance:
Eddie Woo @misterwootube,
Hannah Fry @FryRSquared
James Tanton @jamestanton
Chris Smith @aap03102
Bobby Seagull @Bobby_Seagull
Jo Morgan @mathsjem
David Wees @DavidWees
Matt Parker @standupmaths
Michael Stevens @tweetsauce
Lieven Schiere @lievenscheire
Ben Sparks @SparksMaths
Rob Eastaway @robeastaway
Nira Chamberlain @ch_nira
Ed Southall @edsouthall
Steven Strogatz @stevenstrogatz
Simon Pampena @mathemaniac
Rachel Riley @RachelRileyRR
Alex Bellos @alexbellos
Simon Singh @SLSingh
Katie Steckles @stecks
Craig Barton @mrbartonmaths
Kyle Evans @kyledevans
If you have a favourite starting activity that is not featured here, please share it with us. Thanks!
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