Your pupils will have the opportunity to take part in a national competition to help primary children develop mathematics skills by setting up and running a virtual Grand Prix racing car. The Grand Prix On-line Maths Challenge is aimed at primary children, and is being run by the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (BectA), to support the Government’s Maths Year 2000 initiative, and is sponsored by Jaguar.
The aim is to encourage the use of information and communications technology (ICT) to support the teaching and learning of maths. All a school needs to do is download the free competition software from the BECTA website at: www.mathschallenge.ngfl.becta.org.uk.
Children will work in teams of four, using their mathsskills to plan and set up a virtual Grand Prix racing car. Teams have to calculate the fuel requirements, pit stop timings and maximum safe speeds for their virtual car to race on a given circuit. Between July and September schools can enter their best team into on-line regional heats which will be held in October. The winners from the regional heats will go forward to the Grand Prix On-line Maths Challenge VIP final, which will be hosted by Jaguar in November 2000.
The champions will win a day at a Jaguar racing event in 2001 and top of the range computer equipment for their school. There will be further prizes for runners - up and all finalists.
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