Tag Archives: magic maths

Number Fun Darlington

Maths Workshop Darlington Area

Problem solving

Problem solving

Primary schools in the Darlington  looking for ideas for their maths week or who want to get their children excited about maths can book our Number Fun or Magic Maths Workshop.

We are within easy reach of schools in Darlington, Richmond ( Yorks ), Northallerton, Ripon, Barnard Castle, Bedale, Leyburn, Stockton, Newton Aycliffe, Catterick, Bishop Auckland and surrounding areas.

We bring magic into the classroom by teaching the children tricks that are based on maths to achieve their magical effect.

The workshop activities include problem solving, team work, communication skills, mental maths, drama, logic, listening, concentrating, following instructions, confidence building, calculating on paper and with calculators, number bonds and patterns, areas and shapes and more.

The Magic Maths Workshop is aimed at KS2 but younger children can also take part. Some schools mix the year groups so that the older children can help the younger ones.

To find out more please use the enquiry form on our main web site.

 

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Number Tricks For Maths Fun

Playing with numbers can be fun!

Magic Maths

Magic Maths

With a little imagination it’s easy to add some excitement to a maths lesson. Children love learning tricks and so showing them a trick that they can easily learn which requires some simple maths is a great way to get them practicing their numeracy skills and having fun at the same time.

In this trick the performer successfully predicts the answer to a sum using a set of numbers freely chosen by a spectator.

Example

The performer invites a spectator to assist him.

The performer writes down a number on a slip of paper, folds it up and has another person look after it but gives instructions that the number must not be revealed until asked.

The performer hands the spectator a sheet of paper and a pen and asks him to think of any three consecutive numbers and write them down. He then asks them to reverse the same three numbers and do a subtraction sum taking the smallest from the largest.

When the spectator has worked out the answer the person holding the other slip of paper is asked to unfold it and reveal the number written down by the performer.

Both numbers are the same. Performer bows.

Round of applause!

How it works

If you write down any three consecutive numbers, reverse the same three numbers and do a subtraction the answer will always be 198. ( or -198 if they have taken the largest from the smallest ).

You can do the same trick with any four consecutive numbers and the answer will always be 3087.

Explain to your children how the trick works and then have them practice taking turns to be the performer. Use both three and four number versions.

Book a Maths Workshop for your school.

 

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Classroom Number Tricks

Magic Maths

Maths Workshop

Maths Workshop

Here is an exercise you could incorporate into a maths lesson to add interest and fire up the children’s imaginations. Tell your class you are going to teach them a magic trick using numbers.

Number trick : using the number 8

You will need calculators and a white board. This is the number sequence we will be using:

1 x 8 + 1 = 9

12 x 8 + 2 = 98

123 x 8 + 3 = 987

1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876

12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765

123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654

1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543

12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432

123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321

 

To explore how the trick works start by writing down the first two calculations:

1 x 8 + 1 =

12 x 8 + 2 =

but don’t show the answers yet.

Let the children work out the number sequence and have them tell you what the next row will be.

 

Keep going until you have this:

1 x 8 + 1 =

12 x 8 + 2 =

123 x 8 + 3 =

1234 x 8 + 4 =

12345 x 8 + 5 =

123456 x 8 + 6 =

1234567 x 8 + 7 =

12345678 x 8 + 8 =

123456789 x 8 + 9 =

 

Now let the children use their calculators to find the answer to the last two sums. When they have done so, write them down and be sure to keep the digits vertically aligned.

1 x 8 + 1 =

12 x 8 + 2 =

123 x 8 + 3 =

1234 x 8 + 4 =

12345 x 8 + 5 =

123456 x 8 + 6 =

1234567 x 8 + 7 =

12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432

123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321

Ask if they can see a pattern.

Ask how many numbers are in each answer.

Now have them write down what they think the remaining answers will be and then check them on their calculators.

 

Using their newly acquired knowledge the children are now ready to become classroom magicians. Here is how you can turn the trick into your own amazing maths magic show.

 

Performance

Choose a child to be the magician.

The magician declares that he / she has amazing maths skills and can predict the answers of difficult sums using his / her extraordinary powers.

The magician picks a member of the audience and gives them a calculator. Next she asks them to pick a number sequence beginning with 123. It can be any sequence up to the number nine ie 123456789. Then the spectator is asked to multiply by 8 and finally add x ( where x is the last number in the sequence ).

Example: If the spectator chose 1234 the the magician tells them to multiply be eight and add four ( x  =  4 )

The magician then declares the answer to the amazement of all. ( He / she simply counts down from nine ie if x was six the answer would be 987654 ) and takes a bow.

Big round of applause!

 

Book a Magic Maths Workshop for your school. Find out more by going to Maths Workshop Day.

 

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Magic Maths

Make Maths Exciting!calculations

Maths Workshop Day is all about having fun with numbers.  Each child becomes a Mathemagician learning how to do fab magic tricks and stunts which apparently require incredible mathematical ability, telepathy, super fast reflexes or special powers. Maths lessons will never be the same again!

Action centred learning

The Magic Maths workshop includes plenty of hands on, have a go activity. Playing cards, dice, string, match sticks, coins, paper, card and other everyday objects are used as props for counting and measuring. The children are therefore using their hands as well as their heads thus learning by doing.

Improving concentration

As with any new knowledge or skill, learning and performing number magic requires concentration. Although most of the tricks are  fairly straightforward it is essential to concentrate in order to avoid mistakes. Practicing the tricks helps to improve concentration.

Problem solving

Encouraging children to apply their intelligence and think is an essential part of the learning process. Magic is fascinating and most children are keen to try and work out how a magical effect is achieved. In the Magic Maths Workshop the children have a go at “problem solving” before the mystery is explained.

Mental maths

A Mathemagician has to be able to do quick calculations in his / her head. Pulling out a pocket calculator in the middle of a demonstration of maths genius is not an option! The workshop therefore encourages kids to practice their mental maths as part of a fun activity.

Building confidence

Once a trick has been mastered it must be performed. A performance can be one to one or in front of a group. Encouraging children to perform the tricks can help to build their self confidence.

Learning from mistakes

Helping children to understand that failing is part of the learning process is a valuable lesson in school and in life generally. In Magic Maths if the trick will not work it is because a mistake has been made. The workshop teaches the children to think through the process, identify the mistake and then to take care and try again.

Cross curricular

There is also scope to link the workshop to other subjects such as creative writing, history or science. Notes are provided for teachers with ideas on how this can be achieved.

Book a Magic Maths Workshop

For more information about Maths Workshop Day visit the Jolly Good Workshops for Schools web site.