With a clear focus on concepts of measurement and featuring a concrete maths challenge, acclaimed Egyptologist “Dr Colorado Smith” needs your pupils help to solve a 3,000 year old puzzle!
"We've had lots of positive feedback from staff and pupils, who thoroughly enjoyed the launch assembly, workshops and code-breaking powerpoint activities to do in class!" Red Oak Primary School
Workshop Description
Making ‘measurement’ concrete in the pyramids!
Our resident archaeologist, "Dr Colorado Smith", has returned from Egypt with some exciting news - they've 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 they can't do it by themsleves, they're on the lookout for schools to help them!
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 children were buzzing about it all week and realised that Maths can be fun! I would highly recommend it and would not hesitate to use you again in the future." St Benedict’s Primary
"We absolutely loved our day solving the Riddle of the Sphinx. It definitely created a huge buzz in the school!" Broadsquare Primary School
See the Riddle of the Sphinx in Action!
@AsCreatives led a wonderful Maths workshop today. The children were buzzing from the assembly at the beginning of the day outlining the 'Riddle of the Sphinx until the denouement at the end of the day. #stlawrencelearns #Maths #Mathematics #fun #Kidsinthehall ➕➖➗🧮🟰 pic.twitter.com/HNZraA6ET2
— St Lawrence Catholic Primary School (@school_lawrence) June 8, 2022
We've had loads of fun working together and using our maths skills to solve the Riddle of the Sphinx. @AsCreatives #maths #ProblemSolving #creativemaths pic.twitter.com/gJ9cQpfzgQ
— Broad Square Primary (@Broad_Square) January 17, 2020
P6 using their maths skills to solve “The Riddle of the Sphinx” last week with @AsCreatives for Maths Week Scotland @mathsweekscot @SLCNumeracy @MathsScot #MathsWeekScotland #TeamBurgh pic.twitter.com/D4YHxt7bt9
— Burgh Primary School (@BurghPrimary) October 5, 2019
Maths
EYFS - Y6 / P1-P7 / Senior Infants - 6th Class
One Day
Whole-School
School Hall
FAQs
The Riddle of the Sphinx can accommodate up-to 60 pupils per workshop - that's the whole of a two-form entry school in just one day!
The day starts with a whole-school assembly where pupils will meet "Dr Colorado Smith". We will work with you to plan a timetable for the workshops, to suit the number of classes you would like to include - and around the specific timings of your school day. There is a short follow-up activity to be undertaken back in the classrooms which we provide for class teachers, as a PowerPoint. The outcomes of these are shared in a closing assembly, so that the result of the overall challenge can be revealed. A typical timetable looks like this:
09.00 – 09.20: Whole-school assembly, where your visitor will explain how they need the children’s help …
09.20 – 9.55: Year 1 stay in the hall for their workshop …
9.55 – 10.30: Year 2 come to the hall for their workshop …
10.30 – 11.05: Year 3 come to the hall for their workshop …
11.05 – 11.30: One Reception class have a visit, in their own setting …
11.30 – 11.55: The other Reception class have a visit, in their own setting …
LUNCH
1.00 – 1.40: Year 4 come to the hall for their workshop …
1.40 – 2.20: Year 5 come to the hall for their workshop …
2.20 – 3.00: Year 6 come to the hall for their workshop.
3.00 – 3.15: Closing assembly where findings are shared and the outcome revealed.
Your visitor will need access to a laptop/ screen/projector set up in the school hall, so that pupils can view the supporting PowerPoint.
Yes! Lots of the schools we work with choose to do this to really get into the theme of the day.
Yes! if you've already enjoyed our Riddle of the Sphinx workshops then you might want to consider one of our other whole-school maths days which include; The Pirate's Challenge, Times Tables Trattoria, The Race into Space and The Benefactor!
Yes! you can purchase The Riddle of the Sphinx teaching pack and deliver the day yourself! www.ascreativesconnect.com/product/extraordinary-maths-the-riddle-of-the-sphinx/
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