Year Of Numeracy 1997

Tim's Challenge

Tim Brighouse, Birmingham's Chief Education Officer, asks all Birmingham pupils:

"How long's a piece of string?"

Pupils can work on this question taking their investigation in any direction. Teachers may suggest lines of enquiry linking to aspects of numeracy relevant to the particular child.

Schools should select their best five pieces of work and send them to the Maths Team, Martineau Education Centre by 24th October 1997. Results will be announced and prizes awarded at the Raising Achievement Conference.

Pre-School and Nursery | KS1 | KS2 | KS3 | KS4

Can your pupils answer the age old question "How long is a piece of string?"

Pre-School and Nursery

How many things can you measure with a piece of string?

Think of all the ways you could use this piece of string.

Key stage 1

You will need a piece of string.

What things are 1 piece long?
What things are 2 pieces long?
What things are 3 pieces long?

How many pieces of string is a table?
How long is your book?
How wide is a room?

If you are 4 pieces of string long, how long is your piece of string?

Key stage 2

What shapes can you make with your piece of string?
What is the perimeter of each of your shapes?
What is the area of each of your shapes?
Can you make shapes of different area?

Investigate and develop...

Key Stage 2 poster

Key stage 3

You are given a piece of string and the two ends are joined together.
The string is now opened out to form a shape of area 24 square centimetres.
How long is your piece of string?
Investigate for different shapes and areas.

Key Stage 3 poster

Key stage 4+

Your piece of string is the diameter of a square.
What is the perimeter of your square?
What is the area of your square?
Investigate for other regular polygons?
Investigate for other shapes with equal diameters.

Key stage 4 poster

Tim's Traders

An Answer

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