We’re adding a touch of festive magic to maths this Christmas through a range of fun, free and educational activities, funded by Essex Year of Numbers.
Highlights include an advent competition, running from Sunday 1 December to Tuesday 24 December 2024. The competition will pose daily maths questions for children aged 7 to 15-years-old through a festive advent calendar. It will be hosted on the ‘Essex Year of…’ app, which is free to download and available on both android and iOS devices. By opening a new door each day, users need to crack the maths puzzle and submit the correct answer to be in with a chance of winning a daily maths related prize.
Animal Mysteries Festive Trails are also taking place in seven county parks across Essex. These include Belhus Woods, Cudmore Grove, Danbury, Great Notley, Hadleigh, Thorndon and Weald Country Parks. The trails will be running from the Saturday 30 November 2024, until Sunday 5 January 2025. Children can embark on a festive themed trail to solve puzzles and count the animals hiding in the park to uncover the ‘magic number’. Finding the 'magic number' will give them the chance to win an Explore Essex Explorer pass (worth £85).
Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability said:
This festive season, we wanted to create a range of exciting and accessible activities for some of our youngest local residents. This will help spark a love of numbers and show just how rewarding problem-solving can be.
We want to encourage the whole family to get involved in our festive themed maths events. To allow them to develop vital numerical skills in a relaxed and fun environment in the run up to Christmas.”
Find more information on the advent competition and terms and conditions online.
