Two Scottish schools - Bowhouse Primary in Falkirk and Cauldeen Primary in Inverness - have reached the finals of the eTwinning European Prize Awards for their projects exploring new and exciting ways of introducing mathematics to pupils.

Under the theme of the nursery rhyme, One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, staff and pupils worked together to create and solve mathematical problems using digital games and puzzles. Working with partner schools in Romania, Iceland, Poland and Ireland, they managed to bring a renewed sense of understanding and excitement to a subject children often find difficult to understand.

Dorothy Ostachinni, a teacher at Bowhouse, said: “Benefits include the range of ICT tools, which I have become familiar with and been able to incorporate into the delivery of our curriculum, including partnerships with our parents, families and eTwinning partners.”

George Glass, headteacher at Cauldeen, said: “The motivating experiences and rapid skills development gained for staff and pupils have been a testament to the unique way eTwinning provides a superb context for creative learning and teaching development.”

Cauldeen used its successful eTwinning project as the basis for a Comenius school partnership application in 2008. Its approval for a two-year project provides them with funding to visit their partner institutions and further recognition for their hard work.

The eTwinning initiative enables European schools to work collaboratively on cross-curricular projects through a common online portal.

E etwinning@britishcouncil.org.