How do you make a ball? ... with great difficulty. Making something perfectly round is harder than you think. Take a football. A thousand years ago, footballs were really rubbish. They were just pigs' bladders that had been blown up like balloons. They weren't very round, so when you kicked one, you had no control of where it would go. (By the way, the pig-bladder balls had to … [Read more...]
Who invented maths?
Yeah, but who invented maths? .. was one of my favourite questions this week. I’m not sure whether the student was just a little bored and wanted a diverting chat, or whether there was a genuine interest. Either way it did get me thinking. Here’s what probably happened: A long time ago there lived a boy with an unpronounceable name. So we’ll call him Eric. He … [Read more...]
Who invented maths first?
Some say the ancient Egyptians invented maths - you know, the people who built the pyramids, mummified their kings, and wore those funny hats. The Egyptians were certainly brilliant engineers and inventive thinkers. Their pyramids are mathematical marvels. In order to build them, the Egyptians invented a new number system, so they could write down big sums. 1 is a single … [Read more...]
Help, my child is too young for school!
Help - my child's too young for school! My daughters first day at school was a bit of a shock - not for her - but for me. To see all these littlies running around, brimming with excitement and anticipation, excitedly anticipating the many years of schooling ahead, barely acknowledging proud parents as they rushed into the joys of academia…. Not really. If your child's first … [Read more...]
How to learn to concentrate
How to learn to concentrate I wish I had a pound for every parent who said "If only he would just learn to concentrate." It's a comment that appears frequently and seems to be at the root of all learning. The fact that "my child can't concentrate" is blamed for all the problems. There have been studies involving diet, exercise and a number of other factors. Some are ignored, … [Read more...]