Francis Greenway High School

Successful Learners – Supportive Environment

Telephone02 4964 1282

Emailfrancisgre-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Mathematics

The study of mathematics is mandatory from Kindergarten to Year 10. 

By studying mathematics, students learn to work mathematically – developing fluency, understanding, problem-solving, reasoning and communication skills.

The syllabus consists of the following strands:

  • number and algebra
  • measurement and geometry
  • statistics and probability.

In Year 11 and 12, the study of mathematics is optional. Courses offered include:

  • Mathematics Extension 2 (Year 12 only)
  • Mathematics Extension 1
  • Mathematics Advanced
  • Mathematics Standard 2
  • Mathematics Standard 1 (Optional HSC examination)
  • Mathematics Life Skills.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

The Mathematics faculty will be including famous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders into their Stage 4 programs to help students extend their understanding of the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through research.

The Mathematics faculty are planning to...

Use the school site to engage students in sustainability learning

Promote collaboration and partnerships within the community

Colin Doyle Memorial Prize – Year 11 Extension Mathematics 

Year 11 Mathematics students will complete in this competition. Newcastle Mathematical Association holds its annual problem-solving competition for the Colin Doyle Memorial Prize. The competition is for Hunter Valley and Central Coast  students and consists of a two-hour paper. The competition is named in memory of a prominent mathematics educator in the Hunter region and has been running for the past 30 years. The first three place-getters receive a modest financial award. As well as prizes, certificates will be presented for outstanding  performance. Entries are judged on correctness of solution, but also on completeness and clarity of presentation.

 

Money Smart Teaching ASIC'S 

MoneySmart Teaching is the Australian Government's financial literacy education program for primary and secondary students. It is about knowing how to manage money and make confident and informed financial decisions during different life stages. The program provides students with the basic of consumer and financial literacy.

 

Explicit teaching of Numeracy        

This is numeracy. We do this every lesson with our classes. We discuss the real life applications of mathematics in students's lives. 

 

Real Life Applications of Maths and Research Activities                    

Credit cards                 Percentages             Measurement

Ratio and Rates          Sustainability           House Designs

Discounts (Profit and Loss)                          Statistics   

Scale Drawings            Consumer Arithmetic                 

 

Year 7 GATS – Maths in Action Day                                                         

Students rotate in small groups through a number of practical mathematical applications, exploring mathematical ideas through exercise, measurement, graphing and eating M&M's. The topics that were covered included statistics, linear algebra, exponential decay, engineering, physics, financial  maths, geometry and fitness.                     

 

Year 8 GATS - Coding in the Classroom                                                  

Students learn the fundamentals of coding using visual coding and used the program Kodu to develop their  own racing game and then a game of their choosing. They investigated non-linear systems and chaos theory to explore the complexities of the world that surrounds them.

 

Year 8 and Year 9 GATS – Inquisitive Minds Workshop                             

Gifted and Talented Mathematics students are selected to attend the Inquisitive Minds "Problems, Patterns, Pictures and Puzzles" workshop. Students spend the day working with students from schools all over the Hunter region to push their mathematical skills and to collaborate in solving engaging and challenging problems.

 

Year 9 Elective iSTEM       

The Mathematics department offers iSTEM as a two year elective for Year 9 students. The iSTEM industry is seen by some economic forecasters as the next boom industry and involves:

Mathematics; (spatial concepts and geometry),

Scientific principles (particularly Physics),

Design & Technology; (electronics, sensors and actuators), and ICT (computer programming)

 

Year 10 and Year 11 Start Smart Money Workshop

Year 10 and Year 11 Mathematics students attend the Start Smart Money workshops. The presentation recognises the importance of teaching financial literacy skills to young people as well as changing the way young people learn about money. By making money management interactive, engaging and fun, students are given the confidence and competence to make smart decisions about money. The presentation targets some common financial issues students may face, from saving and budgeting, getting their first job and controlling impulse spending. Students are given the essentials of smart money management using stories, practical examples and activities.

 

University of NSW Mathematics Competition (ICAS)

ICAS provides an opportunity for students to gain a measure of their own achievement in an external testing situation. All students receive a certificate and an individual students report indicating which questions they answered correctly and their score compared with the rest of the students tested.

 

Future Focused Learning

To succeed in the future, our students will require research, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. They will need to be able to work independently and together with groups of other students. The spaces our children learn in have to be more flexible with the innovative integration of new technology and better opportunities for students/teacher collaboration. The Mathematics department is furnishing our second classroom to promote and stimulate our students' learning achievements.