Crystal Maze - problem solving at its best!

It has been an exciting time in the Maths Faculty. Mrs Bond, Mr Vaughan and Mr van Wyk have been delighted to welcome Year 5 and 6 pupils from various local primary schools to take part in our Crystal Maze Challenge.

During two days in October, over 170 children from North Cerney, Kemble, Ann Edwards and Powells Schools battled to solve the mysteries. They worked in small teams and supported each other. Their challenges involved completing number, shape and logic puzzles against the clock whilst developing their skills in team work, communication and problem solving.

There was an excited buzz in the room as each team tackled the new problems and worked their way around the six world zones. In each region there were several games to choose from and one child acted as time keeper. Games varied from matching European flags to descriptions based on their symmetry, to an Egyptian-based game which involved putting a jigsaw together of Tutankhamen. The aim was to complete the challenge in a set time and win a crystal, which they would exchange to give them time in a balloon filled paddling pool. While searching in the “pool” they had to make quick mental maths calculations using odd and even numbers. They had to careful not to knock any balloons out of the pool or drop any dominoes on the ground or they forfeited time in the balloon pool.

The children worked on these activities for over one hour and didn’t realise what a variety of calculations they solved. Maths certainly was fun!!! Mrs Bond commented, “it was wonderful to see how well the children worked as a team , constantly encouraging and supporting. This was particularly evident on the Tuesday morning when the pupils from Kemble and North Cerney were put in mixed teams and they worked well with children they had never seen before!”