AS pupils across the county prepare for World Maths Day 2013, last-minute plans are put in place for an array of live maths games, competitions and activities, all with the common aim – to make maths fun!

Having a basic understanding of arithmetic is essential for all children to grasp. Yet by making maths fun, children are motivated and view more challenging maths tasks as achievable, with many then having the confidence to give them a try.

Throughout World Maths Day tomorrow, pupils at King’s Hawford will take part in a wide range of maths-based activities. Katie Beaver, head of academic challenge at King’s Senior School, will lead the first maths challenge of the day when she will put pupils to the test with folding paper. Pupils in years three to six will then go head- to-head for the house maths cup when they will battle it out in a maths quiz.

“World Maths Day is a great platform for encouraging pupils to have fun experimenting with maths while, at the same time, trying something different to their usual lessons.

“In addition to the bespoke activities that we arrange at King’s Hawford, we also give our year one and two pupils the opportunity to take part in the diverse range of inter-school maths games that are available online.

“Each pupil has the potential to progress through five interactive levels and play a maximum of 500 games.

Points will be accumulated on a mathometer and count towards a personal and school score,” said King’s Hawford headteacher Jim Turner.

After an action-packed morning of inter-house, school and maths group competitions, the children at King’s Hawford will enjoy watching Disney favourite Donald Duck on one of his many adventures in Mathmagic Land.

“Seeing one of their favourite Disney characters go in search of 2D and 3D shapes while having fun with maths is motivating for children of all ages.

“Taking maths out of the classroom is an effective way of engaging pupils, particularly those who have struggled with maths in the past. If maths is made fun, children will learn without even realising and hopefully become comfortable working with numbers at every stage of their education and future career,” said Mr Turner.