Otley teacher uses murder mysteries help solve maths problem (From Wharfedale Observer)

Otley teacher uses murder mysteries help solve maths problem

7:00am Friday 13th April 2012 in News

Maths, as many a schoolteacher will attest, can be a tricky subject to get students enthused about.

But Otley teacher Jill Whieldon has turned to the unlikely world of murder mysteries to engage her pupils, and has written her own book.

Mini Mathematical Murder Mysteries has now been published and is on sale as an educational resource to teachers and students across the world.

The book, which is used by Jill and her colleagues at Prince Henry’s Grammar School, features a collection of crime riddles that can be solved using different mathematical skills.

Jill said: "I have produced topic-related mini-murder mysteries that engage pupils in their learning and encourage them to discuss the mathematics they have used.

"My colleagues have also been using the mysteries, and the overwhelming response from the students has been positive. Many of them feature as the names of the suspects in the murder mysteries, and they have been begging to be the ‘murderer’ in any new mysteries I write.

"Before producing the book, I trialled a few of the mysteries on the Times Educational Supplement resources website. The feedback was fantastic and they are now being used all around the world. This summer they are going to be used at a teacher training event in the USA and with some police recruits here in the UK.”

Jill’s first collection covers topics for Year 7 and 8 students, but she is planning further books aimed at Year 8 and 9 and Higher GCSE level.

Mini Mathematical Murder Mysteries costs £7.50. For more details, visit tarquingroup.com/.