Students develop math anxiety early on, often because of the way this subject is taught in a drill manner, hence relying upon memorisation instead of understanding and experimenting. For this reason, this project will focus on engaging students in primary education in a cross-curricular approach to STEAM with the help of history to better understand the applications of science and mathematics throughout the times and how they eventually evolved into what it is today. This approach aims to explore the historical heritage behind the scientific and mathematical development we have today while motivating students to pursue these fields in an enjoyable and non-formal way.
This project will provide the support educators need to implement manipulations in their lesson plans and improve the hands-on approach to STEAM subjects, especially to help prevent math anxiety from primary education and preparing students to have a better experience with these subjects later in their education.
Project results:
- The creation of a guide to help teachers use historical heritage to explain and contextualise Mathematical concepts. We will not only explain how STEAM theory can be applied to heritage, but we will also talk about how these theories were first thought of, the context and consequences they had on our society’s evolution.
- A workshop creation containing a model proposal for learner’s stories.
- Pedagogical material that will help alleviate the burden of teachers trying to find innovative ways to introduce mathematics.
- Manipulation blueprints, which are ready-to-use and easily adaptable material, with detailed instructions on how to build the tools needed removing the burden from the teachers of planning creative lessons.