MATHS

CULTURAL DIVERSITY WEEK 2022 – MATHS IN ACTION

Cultural Diversity Week, held in the final week of term three, is a way in which the McKinnon Community celebrates and acknowledges each and every one of our unique ethnicities. It calls for us all to put aside our differences and to recognise that we, as a collective, are a whole. During the week many tasks and activities have been arranged by our own Mrs Nayyar and other supporting teachers, for which we applaud their devotion and work and give our thanks for this lovely week to celebrate and to bond within our differences. 

While enjoyment in the recess and lunch activities are undertaken, the cultural celebrations do not cease within the classroom. During maths, we were introduced to some Asian board games to challenge not only our normal view of games we play purely for fun, but also to show us the strategy, the thinking and the brains involved in playing these games. While success may be achieved by purely guessing and ‘going with the flow’,  Pong Hau K’i and Sz’kwa was shown to my class, Mrs Nayyar’s 8P, as a way of out of the box thinking with plenty of fun attached.

I particularly enjoyed Pong Hau K’i. The game required the two players to move around two counters on the board until the other player had no moves left to make. I did see some win the game simply by moving their counters left and right, however many saw the strategy to the game that looks quite simple at a first glance. The aim was to back the opponent in either the left or right hand sides, ensuring that they have occupied both counters in a vertical line; therefore blocking their escape seems doable without luck.

On another occasion, the students learnt new ways of counting. By this, I am referring to the learning of counting in foreign languages such as Japanese, French and German. The class was enthralled by the task as I heard people yelling out the answers before the video even began. 

All in all, we owe a debt of gratitude to Mrs Nayyar and any other members of staff and students that contributed to the week's success and the advertisement of the moral that comes with. Between the games, the learning, the food and the laughs, we will all take a message home with us that no matter where in the world you come from, we can all collaborate and coexist under our very own McKinnon roof; both here at East or at Main. 

Adriana Tzolakis

Year 8 Student