Overcoming math phobia through creative activity 

If there is one word that comes close to ‘terror’ during school life, it is undoubtedly ‘Maths’. And students often say that Math is a tough subject. However, real education is viewing our fears as an opportunity to grow. Keeping this spirit at heart, Apeejay School, Noida, came up with an innovative ‘Toy from Trash’ competition. Students of Class 5 participated in this fun intra-class competition, which aimed at developing the eye-hand coordination, mathematical reasoning, and spatial skills of the students. This activity also proved to enhance the attention span of the students.

All students had to submit their entries to their respective Math teachers for the first round. Three best entries from each section were shortlisted for the final round held recently. Finalists were given 45 minutes each to make their toy using trash items provided to them. The students had to then present their toy, and explain within a minute the relationship between the toy and the mathematical concept they had used while making it.

Suhanya Johri of class 5-B won the first position while the second position was won by Diva Rathi of class 5-A.  The judges also declared the best submission from each class. These included Tanvi Rajput from class 5-A, Shavya Sanadhya from 5-B, Abhineet Saha from 5-C, Anushree from 5-D, Sonampreet from 5-E and Divyanshi De from 5-F.

Primary teacher in Charge Mrs. Smriti Samuel applauded the efforts of all the students and was very impressed to see their creative streak in making the toys using Math ideas. She said, “Such competitions spark the innovative mindset in all the students and will go a long way in ensuring students approach their studies with a creative bent of mind.”