BRAINways Education is pleased to offer Days of Excellence – programs of workshops for gifted and talented students in Brisbane South.

 The following programs are being offered:

5/05 and 6/05: Board Games with Maths – for year levels P-2

7/05 and 9/05: The Power of Words: Hands on Critical Thinking – for year levels P-2

5/05 and 6/05: The Best Move: Mathematics of Games – for year levels 3-5

7/05 and 9/05: How to Win an Argument – for year levels 3-5

7/05 and 9/05: The Mathematics of City Design – for year levels 6-8

5/05 and 6/05: The Voice: Developing One’s Unique Persuasive Voice – for year levels 6-8

To nominate your child please contact Karen McCullagh kmccu3@eq.edu.au

For your information, please find below brief abstracts of the Days of Excellence programs.

Programs for years P-2

Mathematics of Board Games

Research shows that playing board games is directly linked with the success in mathematics, the more different board games a child plays the better his/her performance in maths.  Detecting patterns, predicting outcomes, problem solving and logical thinking are only some of the mathematical skills students will be using and developing during this program. Most importantly, they will reflect on processes and deconstruct games, change the rules to influence the outcome, and manipulate the type of mathematical skills needed to complete the game, all of this while having fun.

The Power of Words: Hands on Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is an essential life skill that helps children think on their feet, formulate and argue their point of view, which leads to an increase sense of confidence. Through interactive, hands-on activities, this program will be an opportunity to develop creative thinking skills, as well as the ability to structure arguments and articulate thoughts clearly. Join us for some fun at The Power of Words: Hands on Critical Thinking program.

Programs for years 3-5

The Best Move: Mathematics of Games

Mathematics is not just about numbers and formulas. Games are ways we can experience the beauty of mathematics all around us. From probability to combinatorics and game theory, this program will provide an opportunity to explore the depth of advanced mathematical concepts, as well as to develop skills such as multi-step problem solving, spatial reasoning and pattern recognition by integrating deeper mathematical thinking into gameplay.

How to Win an Argument

Have you got something to say? This program will help you build the confidence and persuasive skills necessary to advance your opinions, persuade people and entertain an audience. Learning how to scrutinize arguments, analyze ideas and articulate opinions is an essential skill for students that will help them in their schooling, in the workplace and in everyday life. At the Days of Excellence How to Win an Argument program students will learn how to incorporate style, substance and structure to create powerful and entertaining speeches. The workshops provide fun, interactive activities designed to teach critical thinking, rhetoric and strategy that will help students to use their intelligence and quick-thinking to their best advantage.

Programs for years 6-8

Mathematics of City Design

Geometry, algebra, and trigonometry play a crucial role in architectural design. Architects apply these math forms to plan their urban environments. From the use of Geometry in designing city layouts of roads, parks, and buildings, to the use of Mathematical Modelling to predict future needs of a growing city by investigating the expanding traffic and housing needs, this program will give the opportunity of a hands-on investigation of advanced mathematics applied to city design.

The Voice: Developing One’s Unique Persuasive Voice

This program will focus on one of the key aspects of writing: developing one’s own style, language and viewpoints. Guided by writers and using a variety of stimuli, including hands on activities, students will have the opportunity to explore and experiment with creative methods to inspire them to develop their arguments with originality, strength and power.

We are looking forward to working with your students at the Days of Excellence programs.