Maths Workshops Primary Schools in Scotland

All of our maths workshops for primary schools in Scotland have been carefully designed to put into context and actively promote the keystones of the Curriculum for Excellence – as well, of course, as supporting the push to Make Maths Count.

Tapping into pupils’ own creativity, our unashamedly fun workshops engage, motivate and, crucially, challenge the children and young people we work with, providing them with meaningful experiences and outcomes. You can view workshops for Secondary Schools in Scotland here.

Our Primary workshops have been specifically developed to support the Curriculum for Excellence in the following ways:

To support the development a secure understanding of the concepts, principles and processes of mathematics and apply these in different contexts.
To support the development of essential numeracy skills, allowing full participation in society.
To provide opportunities for pupils to interpret numerical information appropriately and use it to draw conclusions.
To provide opportunities for pupils to apply skills and understanding creatively and logically to solve problems, within a variety of contexts.

Our workshops are available as in-person sessions, live streamed workshops or themed Maths resource packages - all of which are listed below. You can also find out more about our downloadable resources over at www.ascreativesconnect.com/

"The children LOVED the workshops! Everyone, from the 5 year olds to the 11 year olds, thoroughly enjoyed the visit and they were engaged from start to finish. The most important thing was they had fun with Maths! We arranged the visit during Maths Week Scotland and this definitely was one of the highlights of the week!" Class Teacher, St Margaret's Primary, Johnstone

Maths Week Scotland 2023

Celebrate Maths Week Scotland with a high energy, imaginative, fun and Creative Maths day for all pupils to take part in. This year, Maths Week Scotland will take place during the 25 September - 1 October 2023 and if you would like to celebrate with a high energy, imaginative, fun and Creative Maths day for all pupils to take part in, then take a look at what's on offer below!

Funding
The Edinburgh Mathematical Society grant scheme - The Schools Enrichment Fund, exists to provide financial support for mathematical activities which fall outwith the normal school curriculum. There are no closing dates but early submission of applications is strongly encouraged. Find out more over at www.ems.ac.uk/funding/schools-funding

“10/10 …The pupils were all fully engaged in their learning because they were enjoying the different context and visitor. They were talking about the workshops all week. It was just what we needed to create a buzz around maths for maths week!” Caskieberran Primary

Whole School Maths: The Pirate's Challenge

Piratical fun with numbers and shapes!

Captain Morgan will be more than a little confused on arriving at school - because just a few hours beforehand this mathematical Pirate will have been on The Good Ship Mathematics, in the middle of the Caribbean! Swept to your school by a Time Tornado, the Captain will need the pupils’ help to get back to the right time and place. Are they up to the Challenge? And it’s a Challenge that will test their understanding of number, shape and direction to the max.

Exploring: both additive and multiplicative reasoning, fractions, number patterns, mental and written calculation, elimination, 2D and 3D shapes, measurement, interpreting data, positional language, co-ordinates.

"The children loved the workshops and had a great time. It was one of the highlights of our school maths week. They were so enthusiastic and determined to find out who would be the best candidate to go into space" Maths Teacher, Kildrum Primary

"Fabulous! As a maths specialist I had a great day and it was lovely to hear the children so excited about it. 11 out of 10 - couldn't rate it any higher!" St Aidan's CE Primary School

Whole-School Maths: The Riddle of the Sphinx

Making ‘measurement’ concrete in the pyramids!

Our resident archaeologist, Dr Colorado Smith, has returned from Egypt with some exciting news - he's now collected all the clues required to solve the age old Riddle of the Sphinx - and open the Inner Sanctum in the Valley of the Kings. But as he can't do it by himself, he's on the lookout for schools to help him!

Featuring opening and closing assemblies, workshops and in-class challenges, The Riddle of the Sphinx takes pupils through three stages of mathematical thinking: concrete, pictorial and abstract. And while there's a definite focus on "measurement", the programme covers a whole range of other areas - and can accommodate the whole of a two-form entry school in a single day!

Exploring: measurement, additive and multiplicative reasoning, patterns and sequences, properties of 2D and 3D shapes, money, time, Roman numerals, percentages, problem solving - selected for each age group in line with National Curriculum objectives.

“The students gained from working through a thematic approach to apply their skills and knowledge in mathematics as a team. The quality of delivery was fantastic. Jackson performed at such a high level and made sure to engage all children.” Principal Teacher, Minishant Primary School, South Ayrshire

"We absolutely loved our day solving the Riddle of the Sphinx. It definitely created a huge buzz in the school!" Broadsquare Primary School

Whole-School Maths: The Benefactor

Money-based maths fun!

Eccentric millionaire Benny Factor has amassed a fortune over the last few years – and it’s now time to give something back to a village that’s very close to his heart: Amberton. The trouble is, though, that with so many community groups within the village to choose from, he can’t quite decide how to carve his money up! And that’s where you come in, as your pupils help him draw up a series of budgets …

Featuring opening and closing assemblies, workshops and classroom-based challenges, The Benefactor provides children with a great opportunity to practise their understanding and skills with money in an engaging and entertaining context – and can cater for the whole of up to a two-form entry primary school in just a single day.

Exploring: values and denominations of British notes and coins, money notation, pricing and concepts of “change”, additive and multiplicative reasoning, patterns and sequences, properties of 2D shapes, fractions, percentages, problem solving - selected for each age group in line with Curriculum objectives.

""The children absolutely loved the day, and all year groups were completely invested in it. The whole day ran brilliantly, and I cannot speak highly enough about Chris - he was a pleasure to work with, and was excellent with both the children and adults - he absolutely made the day as special as it was. We have also received positive feedback from parents, who enjoyed the family maths workshop, and as a school we were blown away by the attendance!" St. Philip’s Catholic Primary School

“Lots of staff across the school have found me to say how much they enjoyed it and it was really good to see a workshop which wasn't just fun but educational. They all felt it had a really strong impact on the children” (Deptford Park Primary School)

Whole School Maths: The Race into Space

Our most challenging programme, taking maths to the stars!

The search is on for Britain's next astronaut - and Major Tom wants your pupils' help in selecting the best person for the job. He's found six well-suited candidates, all with different qualifications - but it's up to you to decide which one will win The Race into Space!

After meeting the Major at an opening assembly, and being introduced to the would-be astronauts, each class will be issued with a Mission: to use their maths skills to rank the candidates on one of a number of qualities. Each Mission calls on pupils to demonstrate mathematical fluency, reasoning and problem-solving abilities - and is in line with National Curriculum objectives for their year group. The Major will be on hand to visit each classroom with some vital, additional information - and the programme ends with a second assembly in which each class reports back its findings and helps whittle the field down to just one: Britain's next astronaut.

This exciting and engaging workshop provides an ideal platform for one or two-form entry schools to enjoy a shared maths experience - and learn something about the science of space travel too!

Suitable for: Reception - Year 6 (one or two-form entry schools)

Duration: one day

Exploring: a range of skills in data handling and/or numerical operations and/or understanding shape - selected for each year group in line with National Curriculum objectives.

Whole School Maths: Times’ Tables Trattoria

Through sheer head work, Trevi Times made his dream come true – by opening his own Italian restaurant, Times’ Tables Trattoria! But with his team of chefs wasting too much food (and spending too much money), that dream is on the verge of turning into a nightmare. If only there were some children who could use their knowledge and understanding of their times tables to help him keep his trattoria open …

Featuring opening and closing assemblies, workshops and in-class challenges, Times’ Tables Trattoria gives pupils opportunities to use their times tables in context – and see how they really count. The programmes has a clear focus on multiplication, division and commutative law – with problem solving to the fore, too! And Trevi is able to accommodate the whole of a two-form entry primary school in a single day.

Exploring: times tables, additive and multiplicative reasoning, fractions, percentages, money, problem solving - selected for each age group (P1 - P7) in line with the Curriculum for Excellence objectives.

CSI: Maths

A series of challenging mysteries to engage your students and get them thinking logically

Combining murder mysteries and problem-solving, CSI: Maths is one of our most popular ranges – offering pupils opportunities to apply their skills in, and understanding of shape and measurement in a unique environment. Each workshop can accommodate up to 30 pupils per session and you can choose from:

CSI: Storyland (P1-P3)
With the help of the elves, the Shoemaker’s fortunes have been restored – and all is well in Storyland. Until, that is, his precious last is stolen! Which of his neighbours could have taken it? After using storytelling techniques to introduce pupils to the crime and the suspects, we'll share with them a range of clues left at the scene. They'll then use their sorting and numeracy skills to reveal the identity of the miscreant!

Was it Goldilocks, the Billy Goats Gruff, Little Miss Muffet, the Little Pigs or Red Riding Hood? It’s up to you to find out!

CSI: Michaela Maths (P4-P7)
If it hadn’t been for the quick thinking of one of her teammates, Michaela Maths, one of Britain’s most promising young athletes, would be dead – slain by an unseen hand! The police are baffled by the dastardly deed – and want the children’s help in solving it. Having been introduced to the crime, the suspects and their possible motives, pupils will work in teams on a carousel probing a range of mathematical skills. Taken together, these lead to the suspects being eliminated, one by one – until, if all the calculations are correct, the criminal is unmasked.

CSI: Bake-Off (P4-P7)
All is not well in the world of the Bake Off – one of the judges, Saul Pinewood, has had food poisoning – and he knows it wasn’t an accident! He’s narrowed the field down to six suspects – and hopes that pupils can use their understanding of fractions, percentages and measurements to help him take the final step.

CSI: Tunes - Maths and the Murky World of Music (P4-P7) up to eight classes in a day

Music industry mogul Harry Wilson has made more than a few enemies in his time - and now one of them has succeeded in making life difficult for him! So who was it who hacked into Harry's precious database, deleting all his business contacts in one fell swoop? Means, motive and opportunity will all have to be factored in as pupils investigate this calculated act of sabotage. Was it Viola de Clerc, the classical violinist? DJ Grime, the garage specialist - or popster Betty B? Boy band Heaven Sent are in the mix as well, as is New Punk exponent Polly Ester - not forgetting Country and Western star Jake Carew!

This exciting and fast-paced workshop invites pupils to pit their wits against the criminal by using their data handling and number skills to reveal his - or her - identity.

CSI: Ancient Greek Maths (P4-P7)
Mount Olympus is in turmoil – because someone has stolen Zeus’s thunderbolt! We're on the trail of the culprit – but need your help to put all the pieces together as you collate and interpret the data. Mixing maths with mythology, this is definitely one of our more challenging workshops!

CSI: Saxon Maths (P4-P7)
Alfred the Great has burnt the cakes … or has he? Test your understanding of number, shape and time as you help right the wrongs of history – and work out who framed him!

CSI: Olympics (P4-P7)
This exciting new addition to our CSI: Maths range has been designed to support you in capitalising on the growing interest in next year's Tokyo Olympics and engaging your pupils in some undercover maths. The team of Olympians from the tiny country of Berellia is in turmoil. They're all cyclists, you see - and someone has sabotaged each and every one of their bikes! So children will have to delve deep into the murky underworld of the velodrome as they survey the crime scene, examine the evidence and sift through the suspects - all in a bid to crack The Case of the Criminal Cyclists!

Exploring: sorting, sequencing, elimination, additive reasoning, multiplicative reasoning, number patterns, fractions, percentages, 2D and 3D shapes, plans and elevations, measurement and units of measurement, collecting and interpreting data, positional language, time, problem-solving.

“The students thoroughly enjoyed the workshops. The KS2 children in particular loved the idea of being CSI investigators. We had parents feedback to us that their children had spent a long time explaining every little detail of their investigation and how much they had enjoyed it." Vine Tree Primary School

"Thank you so much for the brilliant Maths workshops, the children absolutely loved them and the teachers thought they were fab too!" Thomas’s London Day School, Clapham

Whole School Maths: The Captain's Conundrum

A pirate-themed whole school maths challenge

Captain Morgan, of the Good Ship Mathematics, has a conundrum … there’s treasure to be found on Cloud Island, there's a map – and a set of clues. But they’re clues that no-one on The Good Ship Mathematics can make head nor tail of. The Captain will meet all the children at an assembly (or, if space doesn’t allow, two consecutive gatherings) and challenge them to conquer the conundrum.

During the course of the day, the Captain will give each year group an age-appropriate set of clues to unearth a particular piece of treasure – and warm them up with one of his piratical maths drama games. Then everyone reconvenes in a meeting (or two meetings) at the end of the day to share their findings - and advise the Captain on what to buy for his expedition. Content is in line with the National Curriculum requirements and will include different age-appropriate activities for each year group. And the programme has been developed to accommodate the whole of up to a three-form entry school in a single day!

Exploring (according to age): both additive and multiplicative reasoning, fractions, number patterns, mental and written calculation, elimination, 2D and 3D shapes, measurement, interpreting data, positional language, co-ordinates.

"The kids were so engaged and loved the different problem solving activities. Would definitely book again!" Tidbury Green Primary

“5 * - A huge thank you for bringing Murderous Maths to River View Primary School! It was a wonderful way to engage and motivate the children with problem solving and reasoning! We would definitely book again!" Riverview Primary

Number Patterns: The Bunker

A fast-paced workshop contextualising sequencing and making connections between maths and other subjects

At the heart of maths, of course, lies the ability to identify, analyse and predict patterns. so, inspired by the work of Alan Turing and his fellow mathematicians at Bletchley Park during World War II, The Bunker is based in cryptology – the writing and reading of codes. Appealing to all age and ability ranges, The Bunker has a simple premise. Working in teams, and at their own pace, students need to identify as closely as possible the location of a Enemy Radio Transmitter by cracking a series of increasingly fiendish numeric, geometric and semiotic ciphers. The more codes they crack, the more precisely they’ll be able to pin the Transmitter down.

Exploring (according to year group and time): number relationships, empirical thinking, properties of 2D shapes, sequences and patterns, Rebus codes, Saesar Shifts, Key words and semiotics.

Duration: 2 lessons – half a day

Suitable for: up to 30 pupils at a time

"A huge thank you, for an amazing day, enjoyed by all. This day served as a platform to build our STEM Week on, which got all the children enthused from the onset. The children could see how exciting and fun Maths can be and relate it to everyday life, which is so important. All of the children thoroughly enjoyed the workshops and the assembly and learned so much from them. All the children were engaged on their tasks; the work itself, both served to support and stretch, enabling all children to be involved." Stickland’s Primary School

The Viking's Quest

A lively, character-based workshop posing students real life numeracy challenges

Numbers, shapes and co-ordinates were all important to the Vikings – as your pupils will discover when Hagar the Hunter turns up in your school. He’s been travelling for centuries – seeking help from anyone he meets. Because it won’t be till he cracks the Riddle of the Runes that he can release his village’s children from the clutches of a mighty dragon. By taking part in a series of interactive challenges, your children will be able to help him – but they’ll need to use all their problem solving skills!

Exploring: both additive and multiplicative reasoning, number patterns, fractions, percentages, measurement, positional language.

Cross-Curricular Links: Food Technology, English, Modern Foreign Languages, History, Geography.

This programme could also be combined with our Time Travel Theatre History exploration of Viking life, time and culture. Get in touch for more details.

“It covered a huge range of skills without the children realising how much Numeracy they were doing! All the pupils could access it despite the huge range of abilities present." Hawes Side Academy

"I can't actually write how much the children enjoyed it - they thought it was fabulous! As a maths specialist I had a great day and it was lovely to hear the children so excited about it. 11 out of 10 - couldn't rate it any higher!" St. Aidan's CE Primary School

Outdoor Maths

Outdoor spaces provide wonderful opportunities to explore how numbers and shapes create both the built and natural worlds. So our engaging (and very active!) outdoor maths workshops, which feature a range of tried and tested al fresco activities, bring home the relevance of numeracy to our everyday lives – and provide lots of scope for problem solving too!

We have developed age-appropriate activities for all year groups from Nursery to Year 6, including our specially designed portable Outdoor Maths Trail - allowing us to offer open air workshops over a whole range of timescales.

Exploring (depending on time, age and group size): maths-in-context, maths language, number investigations, additive and multiplicative reasoning, number sequences and patterns, shape investigations, properties of 2D and 3D shapes, positional language, measurements, data collection, presentation and interpretation.

Duration: different activities require different amounts of time – so we’ll work with you in designing a timetable appropriate to your needs.

And Don’t Forget … we’re also experienced in designing and delivering Outdoor Maths CPD programmes for teachers, including twilights, half days and full days!

“All the pupils from Nursery to Year 6 enjoyed exploring how much fun Maths can be outdoors and the after school family outdoor activity was a great way to engage parents and carers. Would definitely book again." Kirkdale St Lawrence C of E Primary School

Maths Twilight (add-on workshops for staff)

Why not end your day with a Creative Maths Twilight for staff? Our CPD programmes are highly experiential and outcomes-driven, our Twilights give you a chance to unpick what you’ve witnessed and both try out and actively reflect on some new methodologies. And, by booking this at the end of a day of our workshops with pupils, you’ll get it all for a fraction of the usual price!

We also, offer whole-day INSET programmes, further exploring the potential of creativity to support maths in a range of contexts and providing opportunities for powerful, collaborative planning.

"CSI is a great activity to get kids deep thinking and totally engaged. I would certainly recommend it!" Thomas Howard School

"The children really enjoyed the creative maths sessions. The sessions were linked to the current Topic themes though it was easy for the children to overlook the topic facts and head straight for the Maths questions" St Mary's Primary, Yorkshire

Family Maths

Mathematical fun for all the family!

We all know how much family support benefits children's learning. So our Family Maths workshops have been specifically developed to gain and cement that support by offering a fun and friendly environment in which parents/carers work alongside their children on activities that both explore the value of maths and unpick fluency, reasoning and problem-solving. And, by tackling our Household Maths Trail, they'll discover just how easy it is to use any part of the home as a stimulus for quick and impromptu maths challenges!

Family Maths workshops are available in a range of formats - but if you book one at the end of a day of workshops with pupils, we'll be happy to offer you a healthy discount!

“I just wanted to say a massive thank you, the staff and the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves and we will definitely be looking into some workshops for KS1 later in the year and will be recommending this to other schools that we work with!” Brentside Primary Academy

Outdoor Mails Trail Boxes - Now available to buy!

Our Outdoor Maths Trail comprises ten durable, waterproof bags, each containing age-differentiated Outdoor Maths questions, challenges and activities - together with all required resources (plus a Teacher's Guide). It includes ten clipboards - and is all contained in one easy-to-carry box. Available in formats for both primary and secondary schools, it focuses on a whole range of mathematical areas including additive reasoning, multiplicative reasoning number patterns, fractions, percentages, properties of 2D shapes, properties of 3D shapes, money, positional language, multi-stage problem solving and logic problems. Find out more here.

To purchase an Outdoor Trail please contact jo@ascreatives.com

“The Maths Trail you designed for us has proved a great hit with both staff and children!” Primary Education Centre

Live Streamed Maths Workshops and Assemblies

The Pirate’s Challenge: piratical problem solving with Captain Morgan! (P1 - P7)

The Race into Space: a high octane challenge mixing maths with space science! (P1 - P7)

The Riddle of the Sphinx: can you measure up to Dr Colorado Smith’s measurement challenges? (P1 - P7)

The Benefactor: using the Maths of Money to bring about change ... (P1 - P7)

CSI: Storyland: mixing storytelling with maths (P1 – P3)...

CSI: Michaela Maths: using a range of mathematical skills to solve a dastardly crime (P4 – 7 and S1 - S4) ...

CSI: Bake Off: using the fuel of fractions (and, for older pupils, percentages) to clear up some trouble in the kitchen (P4 – 7 and S1 - S4) ...

The Priorities Game: seeing S1 - S5 students working in teams to represent different interest groups in drawing up budgets (and responding to rapidly changing events) to support a community initiative.

Themed Maths Resource Packages

Available as individual packages or as part of a Bumper Bundle, consisting of any two of these, together with our unique Family Maths digital package!

The resources have been designed to allow teachers to take up the narrative and support their pupils in exploring the worlds we’ve created.

You can purchase and download them directly from www.ascreativesconnect.com/

The Race into Space - The search is on for the UK's next astronaut – and Major Tom wants your pupils' help in selecting the best person for the job. He’s found six well-suited candidates, all with different qualifications – but it’s up to you to decide which one will win The Race into Space! (P1 - P7)

The Riddle of the Sphinx - Our resident archaeologist, Dr Colorado Smith, has returned from Egypt with some exciting news: she's now collected all the clues required to solve the age old Riddle of the Sphinx - and open the Inner Sanctum in the Valley of the Kings. But as she can't do it by herself, she's on the lookout for schools to use their understanding of concepts of “measurement” to help her! (P1 - P7)

The Benefactor - Eccentric millionaire Benny Factor has amassed a fortune over the last few years – and it’s now time to give something back to a village that’s very close to his heart: Amberton. The trouble is, though, that with so many community groups within the village to choose from, he can’t quite decide how to carve his money up! And that’s where you come in, as your pupils help him draw up a series of budgets. (P1 - P7)

Family Maths: Maths in Everyday Life – comprising a range of challenges for all the family, exploring ways in which we use maths all the time, without ever really thinking about it – and demonstrating just how easy it is to use almost any family activity as a springboard for a quick maths challenge.

"We have had a brilliant week exploring Ancient Egypt. We solved brilliant literacy and numeracy challenge, Riddle of the Sphinx! Also excavated treasure and spelling words, built tombs, role-played Pharaohs and so much more!" Woodmuir Primary