Pirate Challenge 2012

Numeracy Project in Partnership with Aston University

During February and March 2012 students from Aston University worked with Year 4 pupils in some zone schools on a specially designed numeracy project. The university students had received training from Ian Teffer, numeracy consultant, and were offered support from the university volunteering activities team. The weekly sessions offered pupils in the schools an opportunity to work creatively on a variety of numeracy topics led by the university students. This year we further developed the project to include a university student coming to the POD and working with parents of year 4 pupils on the same numeracy activities that their children were doing in school.  The project culminated with a pirate challenge event at the university where pupils worked in teams, using the skills they had learnt from the university students to solve a variety of numeracy challenges. There were prizes for the winning teams, for teams who had worked well together and for the best dressed pirates! Here are some of the things that were said about the project:

Pupils said:  We enjoyed learning maths. It was great to be a pirate and collect all the gold coins on the passport. Can we do it again!

Parents said:  We have really enjoyed the sessions I was really frightened by maths and did not know how to help my child. Now we do maths activities together and they are great fun!!

University Students said:  We have enjoyed the experience of working with the children both in the school setting and at the Pirate Challenge event.

School Staff said:  

St Josephs – Really good activities and ideas! Students worked well with pupils.

Cromwell - Activities in school and at the university day were excellent- very enjoyable, challenging and a nice variety of maths units covered.

St Vincents – Great activities for all ability children.  Children worked well together in their teams. Well organised by staff.  A variety of activities to suit all abilities.  Children worked together and enjoying the morning.  Lots of maths discussions between groups and within groups.

Nechells – Children enjoyed the activities with students and it did assist the learning in class.  The pirate challenge event was extremely enjoyable and worked well. A fantastic morning enjoyed by staff as well as the children. Super activities and good ideas for lessons and the creative curriculum.

The numeracy project was a big success in supporting children to learn new skills extending their experiences and offering an opportunity to work with university students and spend time in a university environment.