Why book an Energy Heroes visit?
The team at Energy Heroes are especially proud of our Award-winning Context-rich programme. Each of the main 6 Mathematics lessons uses a real-life context as a support to frame its learning objectives.
Aimed at pupils in year 5, also with a focus on engaging families and the wider school community, pupils practice energy management, saving money, creating less carbon dioxide and wasting less of the world’s precious resources. Truly heroic activities.
Engaging Students in Mathematics: Why Context is Critical
Context in maths for children and young adults is especially critical. As educators we are all too familiar with the catchcry from our students, “Why are we even learning this stuff, Miss / Sir?” Very often, objections of this nature indicate some underlying difficulty with content. The real question underlying their grumbling: “If I’m going to be bothered persevering with this, is it really going to byworthwhile at the end?” As with any endeavour in life, slogging away at a difficult, confusing or outwardly onerous mathematical problem without the confidence of a satisfactory outcome is tantamount to digging holes and filling them up again.
Added to this mental impediment to engagement for children is the highly abstract nature of pure mathematics. For many, the language and notation of maths appears as nonsense; as Billy Connolly says, “Why would I want to learn Algebra? I never plan to visit there.”
Connolly’s witticism masks a salient point. Without the understanding that mathematics is a tool with which we explore the world around us (rather than simply a set of abstracted intellectual objects that are an end in themselves), mathematical processes beyond simple number calculations can seem like ‘gobbledygook’.
Image clip- child thinking with notebook
Authentic tasks need not always be in the form of worded problems, however, they should definitely link a mathematical concept to a situation in which the student needs to consider practical, real-world contexts and responses.
What is an Energy Hero?
The Energy Heroes visit
How to book
To book a free school visit including an assembly and a Maths workshop, simply register your interest by clicking here and completing our online booking form , or by emailing hello@energyheroes.org.uk to express an interest.
What to expect on the day
A school visit for one form entry typically lasts 1.5 hours. We can also accommodate 2 and 3 form entry schools- just make sure you let us know, at the point of booking, how many pupils will be taking part in the workshop. We start with a KS2 or whole school assembly about global warming and the links to energy efficiency. This is followed by a one hour Maths workshop, based on Year 5 objectives, exploring UK energy data presented in pie charts. A small group of pupils will be withdrawn part way through the lesson to conduct an energy audit of the school.
What you need to prepare
We will send you questionnaires that the children need to complete before the visit as well as photo permission letters for those children taking part in the audit. We may ask for a copy of your energy performance certificate. We will arrange your preferred agenda for the visit with you via email, including arrival time, assembly time and lesson times.
What happens next
- During the visit, the class teacher is provided with a teacher booklet containing 5 more Maths lessons and related resources to complete over the coming weeks. These lessons provide the vital background to most of the energy saving ideas you will develop with the class.
- There are also important home challenges that the pupils will need to complete.
- We compile and send the school a set of posters related to the data in the questionnaires, so that you can create a display to share your wonderful work with the rest of the school.
- Some schools are also eligible for a further 3 hours extra time from an Energy Heroes teacher, to support their energy saving Eco work.
What do other people think about Energy Heroes?
“The assembly provided lots of information.” Chris Hames, Assistant Principal, Atlas Academy
“It fits in perfectly with our Eco-School and how they have managed to engage others to care about their energy use.” Jack Oldham, Denby C of E.
“It has made learning more relevant to current issues.” Jack Oldham, Denby C of E.
To what extent do you think the programme has encouraged your pupils to engage in Mathematics?
“Children see how Maths is used in everyday life.” Dalveer Bhullar, Maths Lead, Denby Dale First School.
“The link with Maths learning helps to make the shocking statistics more accessible … for our children.” Jack Oldham, Denby C of E.
