Dramatic Maths is a curriculum project that has been running at Half Moon since 2010. The programme aims to engage primary children in Years 3, 4 and 5 with maths through drama, storytelling and problem-solving. The project works across a term to offer children the opportunity to practically explore maths in real-life contexts and feel inquisitive about approaching different maths concepts. There is also a session at the end of the project where the children share their maths skills with their parents and carers in a sharing performance. The first version of Dramatic Maths, in 2010, used the Olympics as a stimulus where the children were detectives who had to solve a mystery using their maths skills. We redesigned the project in Spring 2012 and now use fairytales as a stimulus, as the children become detectives tasked with solving mathematical dilemmas to help the story develop and the fairytale characters succeed. As part of the project, we also deliver CPD sessions for teachers on using drama more broadly in numeracy lessons in school. You can find more information about the programme, which we are currently delivering, on the Half Moon website.
Chris Elwell has been the Director of Half Moon Theatre on White Horse Road since 1997. He talks about a selection of the company’s schools’ projects, including Transitions, Lyrical Laps, Dramatic Maths and Careers in Theatre. Interviewed by Kavana Joyett.
Thomas Simper is an actor and workshop facilitator who has been involved with various Half Moon projects. He briefly mentions working on Dramatic Maths and then turns to a project he particularly enjoyed, with children with special needs at a local hospice. Interviewed by Elsa Loker.
Creative Learning Producer, Beccy Allen talks about Dramatic Maths, a project to support primary schools in teaching maths at KS2. Interviewed by Toni Tsaera.
The project worked with around 240 children; eight classes across Years 2 and 3 who were split into mixed ability groups. The aim was to help Barnaby Bear on his hunt for the missing Olympic torch and involved lots of weighing, measuring, travelling and exploring along the way. A book of the project was created by an illustrator as a legacy to leave with the school.
“Motivation for learning Maths increased a lot. Maths started to make sense.” – Tutor
A New Direction funded project.
The Half Moon workshops were awesome; it was a really nice way for our children to gain some experience in maths areas we sometimes don’t get as much time to spend on in the classroom. It was also a really great way to engage those children who do not enjoy maths. It enabled them to see the learning in a different context, and apply those practical skills within their everyday maths work. We have children now that refer to those sessions as a point of recollection when we revisit a certain topic.