Maths conference has it in the sweetie bag

What have gravity, a bag of chocolate sweets, a tin of beans and Santa Claus all got in common? They are ideas being used in a practical workshop at a maths conference held this week in Inverness.

Around 180 primary and secondary teachers from throughout the Highlands are taking part in a maths education conference on Wednesday 16 February at Charleston Academy, Inverness.

Organised by The Highland Council in partnership with the Scottish Mathematical Council and Learning teaching Scotland - the conference is part of Curriculum for Excellence training for teachers.

Key note speaker is Norman Emerson of Learning and Teaching Scotland and participants will have a choice of 19 workshops which they can take part in.

Conference organiser Deirdre Murray, Highland Council’s Curriculum for Excellence Development Officer said: “This is a great chance for Highland teachers to learn new skills. I would like to thank our guest speakers and workshop leaders in particular Norman Emerson of Learning and Teaching Scotland and Edward Mullen, Chairman of the Scottish Mathematical Council and our colleagues in Highland and Moray Councils who are also delivering workshops.”

The practical workshop on ideas for activities in Higher Maths using sweets, Santa, beans and gravity will be run by Michael Aitchison Head of Maths at Invergordon Academy.