Mathematics, Programming and Electronics come together in this exciting camp about illusions, paradoxes and mathematical tricks.
Camp participants will explore optical illusions and visual phenomena, mathematical paradoxes and maths false proofs and fallacies. Pupils will be presented with remarkable examples of problems from arithmetic and geometry in which the apparent answer is in fact wrong. Dealing with other types of problems called mathematical paradoxes, they will have to decide which line of reasoning is correct and spot the mistake when given two contradicting conclusions.
Through mathematical tricks and games younger pupils will be introduced to elements of algebra that can help to explain how to guess a number someone thought of. We will also consider some useful methods for calculation based on important mathematical ideas.
In electronics and coding younger pupils will discover ‘infinity mirror theory’. Is it possible to physically demonstrate the concept of infinity without taking up the whole universe? In this camp younger pupils study the optimization of space, learn the basic principles of electronic circuits and implement their knowledge in practice by creating their own infinity mirror. Older pupils will build and programme their own lightsabers! Pupils will be able to take their projects home to demonstrate how they operate and what they have learned.
All our camps are underpinned by the study and understanding of Maths and Programming. In programming, whether your child is already a confident coder or just starting out, we will create the most appropriate small study group for them, based on their age and experience.
Children regularly change classroom, teacher and subject during the day. Participants also benefit from a pupil to teacher ratio of six to one with each group of participants being taught in their own separate classroom to maximise the learning opportunity.
In Electronics, Robotics and Programming, younger participants (aged up to 11yrs) will learn about optical illusions, light and infinity mirror theory through their ‘Infinity Mirror’ project. This technological project is also about the optimization of space as pupils will be able to see into ‘infinity’ on a device that sits on a desktop rather than taking up a universe of space!
Pupils will put their knowledge into practice as they create their own infinity mirror with colorful LED strips to form a beautiful lighting effect which reflects again and again inside an infinity tunnel. To make it work, pupils will learn the basic principles of electric circuits and will have hands-on practice with connecting all the electric circuit components. Camp participants will be able to take their completed infinity mirror home with them.
Pupils aged 11 years and up will study robotics through our ‘Interactive Lightsabers’ project, inspired by Star Wars! Pupils will build an interactive lightsaber that will change colour according to the angle it is held at. During each movement, the lightsaber will produce a characteristic sound.
Pupils will learn about, and programme, an ESP chip that controls the LED strip. Pupils will fit the handle of their lightsaber with an accelerometer so it can read the orientation of the device. Pupils will also program the sound to be emitted as the saber moves either swiftly or slowly. Development will be in the Arduino C programming language. This project combines programming, engineering and electronics in a practical demonstration of how these different disciplines can work together.
Format and fees for the senior face to face camp:
- pupil to teacher ratio of 6:1
- participants are taught in small groups, tailored by similarity of age and ability, in individual classrooms
- camp times: 10am to 3pm
- or from 9am for an extra hour of problem solving and/or from 3pm to 4pm with our chess class. There is a supplement of £25 for each additional session booked
- fees are £595 for five days. It is not possible to join for a shorter period
Places are limited, please register your interest HERE.