Where Maths Grows On Trees

Part of the series Inspirations

Find out how one school in Morocco is using a grove of olive trees planted in their school playground to teach students about maths.

The students care for the trees, harvest the oil, visit the camel-driven olive press and sell the resulting oil in their local market, all using maths.

The teachers at Sidi Bouskri School believe the project helps pupils to understand the link between their lives and the work they do in the classroom. It also helps them develop positive relationships with the school and its natural environment.

The project is part of a broader push supported by the British Council in Morocco to encourage schools to become more involved in their local community and to make use of local resources in their teaching.

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Comments about Where Maths Grows On Trees (6)

templeannie on 14 May 2009

I really enjoyed seeing how other students learnt maths.My teacher is now going to take us to the farm to look at eggs a ...
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Duration: 15:00 minutes
Published: 13 March 2008
Licence information for Where Maths Grows On Trees
Next showing on TV: 12:45 11 February 2010

Featured in

International

Area

Inspirations

Series

Stages:

Primary | Secondary

Subjects:

Comparative CPD | International | Maths

Roles:

Teacher

Support Materials

Useful websites

Association of Teachers of Mathematics Another subject association with a mission to develop mathematics education to more closely relate to the needs of the learner

British Council - Partnerships in Education Innovative Aproaches to Learning Useful information on forming partnerships with schools in Morocco

Maths Online e-learning and teaching resource design to enhance learning in the classroom

Comments

- templeannie
  
  I really enjoyed seeing how
  
  14 May 2009 - 00:11
  I really enjoyed seeing how other students learnt maths.My teacher is now going to take us to the farm to look at eggs and how we can us ethem for our maths lesson.
  Students from Crestwood High Support Unit Australia
  - Report the 'I really enjoyed seeing how' comment made by 'templeannie'
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- Barb Phillips - Canada
  
  What Fun!
  
  1 April 2008 - 23:56
  I really enjoyed both the concept and the videography that gave me the feeling of stepping into a Moroccan school with a teacher who knew how to take advantage of what is at hand.
  
  It made me think about all the opportunities that lie around us every day, for learning to happen and to be seen as relevant.
  
  Bravo!
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- Essaid BAHRI
  (Associate)
  
  Re : What fun!
  
  21 April 2008 - 20:16
  I am happy that you enjoyed both the concept and the videography of the film. You are right, given the shortage of teaching and learning material, we resort to our imagination and try to find creative ways of making good use of everything we have around us.
  We are looking for interested teachers/schools who would be willing to work on joint projects to develop creative practices and promote the international dimension in teaching and learning.
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- lcowton
  
  Innovation in context
  
  16 April 2008 - 12:47
  What a fantastic film! A great insight into teaching methods using the environment as a sustainable and inspirational resource. It is heartening to see such recognition and validation of this brilliant initiative.
  This video demonstrates how innovative teaching practices work best when they are relevant to the cultural context in which they are being put into practice. It shows how inspiration for teaching any subject should use available and relevant resources to inspire, motivate and connect pupils to employ the skills they learn in school in a real-life context.
  
  Bravo La Houssaine and Sidi Bouskri!
  - Report the 'Innovation in context' comment made by 'lcowton'
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- Mrs. M.E. Walsh
  
  An inspiration
  
  5 April 2008 - 19:57
  I want to co-operate with other teachers at my school and use the fruit and vegetables we grow in Gardening Club in a similar way to the Moroccan teacher's use of the olives. We are also taking part in the Make a Mint competition which enables Year 6 children to grow mint plants from seed and develop a business to make products using the mint and sell them, keeping financial records as they go and developing their own enterprise. We should make much more use of the resources available in our outside environment and make maths relevant to our children. It was also good to see what can be done in a low-tech way rather than always using hi-tech and ICT. I am now feeling quite nostaligic for blackboard and chalk!
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- sduxbury
  
  Contextualising learning
  
  2 April 2008 - 12:09
  Excellent use of available resources and aquired knowledge to give relevance which is crucial in Mathematics teaching and learning. Refreshing, inspiring video. Thank you.
  - Report the 'Contextualising learning' comment made by 'sduxbury'
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