5 creative ways for maths teachers to make geometry fun

There are many benefits of learning maths. It builds problem-solving skills, gives pupils a better understanding of the world, and gives them the foundations they need to understand finances. So how can you awaken the inner mathematician in your students?

68% of students admit they would be more engaged in the subject if they were shown how it applied to their future. These students are often left confused, wondering when maths – particularly branches like geometry - will come into use in their adult life.

With that in mind, here are five creative ways for maths teachers to make geometry fun.

Appeal to your students’ logical side

Using real-life examples will help your students put what they learn into context. It can also be a useful way of showing them how geometry will help them beyond their school years. Geometry is one of the oldest branches of maths and looks at shapes, sizes, angles and dimensions. Everywhere you look there are shapes and angles, so why not take them out to a sports pitch and ask them to calculate the volume?

Enlist the help of technology

The first step when teaching maths to pupils who do not like maths is to build their confidence. Many students have a mental block when it comes to this subject and will see geometry as something they will never understand, no matter how much they try. One way to build their confidence is to use technology. 86% of educational staff agree that technology should be incorporated into the lesson plan.

Khan Academy , Mathplanet and GeoGebra offer some of the best free online geometry lessons. Incorporate these resources into the lesson plan, use them to set assessments, and encourage your students to explore them outside the lesson.

Take your lessons three-dimensional

Explore geometry resources and print out templates and ask your students to make 3D shapes. This activity appeals to their kinaesthetic learner, helping your pupils visualise shapes and understand dimensions far better.

Interactive assessments

Every maths teacher wants to create a lesson that is memorable. Not only does this mean they have successfully engaged their students, but it also means the students are more likely to remember what they have learnt for future examinations. Interactive assessments will get your students prepared for mock exams or formal assessments and can bring some much-needed fun to the classroom.

Introduce them to famous mathematicians

There is a joke that without geometry, life would be pointless. While it may sound dramatic, without geometry, architects would not be able to understand spatial relationships. Imagine a world without bridges, buildings and other structures that we have become so accustomed to seeing. We owe a lot to this branch of maths and to the early pioneers – Euclid, Pythagoras and Archimedes. You can bring your geometry classes to life by introducing your students to these famous mathematicians and how they have changed the course of history.

You can also get your students engaged in geometry by showing them modern-day mathematicians, like Maryam Mirzakhani, who has dedicated her life to opening up new frontiers in geometry. 86% of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) students admit that knowing an adult in the field would help them pursue it as a career.

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