Kjartan Poskitt's Author Appearances & Maths Shows

BOOKING ENQUIRIES: Special Maths Groups

This page follows on from my author appearances page.

Thank you for showing an interest in what I do!

From SEPTEMBER 2020 if a live event isn't possible, you can arrange a VIDEO EVENT.

Please look through the options below, then when you know what you'd like, please use this address for enquiries:

Check my dates

GIFTED AND TALENTED MATHS GROUPS

If you have a group of keen maths kids, I can do a special session as long as 100 minutes (with or without an interval). As most of my material is not curriculum based, it will be novel to a wide range of ages. Therefore audiences can be a more varied age e.g yrs 5-6-7, or yrs 7-8-9, or yrs 8-9-10-11. I deal with odd card tricks, strange things about the Pascal Triangle, Fibonacci Series and Pythagoras and my "Ten Most Pathetic facts in Maths" which involve chessboards, ridiculous numbers, cutting shapes and so on.
Please note: this session is only suitable for selected and interested kids, it is NOT suitable for whole year groups

MATHS MAKES

We spend up to an hour cutting out and making a few toys! Kids need scissors and a pencil and a copy of this sheet. Time permitting, we can make flexagons, a puzzle and a magic square. I also have other sheets to make my dice puzzle and predictor cards trick.

Suitable for up to 20 kids, I need at least one competent staff helper. If more staff are available, then the group can be larger.

MATHS QUIZ

The quiz is suitable for yrs 5/6. Teams of 4-6 kids sit at tables and answer multiple choice questions and puzzles presented on powerpoint. (See pictures below). Kids also see some practical demos. Maximum number of teams depends on how big the projection screen is. A medium-sized screen is good for about 12 teams. Kids might need pencils/paper to make a few notes. I need one or two staff helpers to keep scores. Full running time is 100 mins with a break, but I can make it shorter!

MATHS TALK and QUIZ

If booking me for a full day, I could do a big maths session in the morning (yrs 3-4-5-6) and the maths quiz in the afternoon.

SPECIAL EVENTS

I'm very happy to mix a maths show in with an event such as a prize giving, a quiz or an opening ceremony. I can just do a few little maths tricks/items as a short cabaret, or a longer session depending on what you need and how much time you want to fill! A visit like this in the evening might also be combined with a bigger maths talk in the afternoon.

PLANNING A DAY
Before I agree to an engagement, I need a rough idea of how you hope to timetable the day, in particular what time you need me to arrive. Please bear in mind these things:

  1. Unless I'm doing a multi-day trip and staying overnight, I will be travelling from York on the day, so please be aware what's practical.
  2. If you're a long way from York and only want a single session or show, afternoon or early evening is the best time to avoid overnight costs.
  3. If I'm doing more than one session I do not need overlong breaks between sessions.
  4. I'm always delighted to sign my books. If you are organising sales, I can give you supplier contact details.

FEES... depend on where you are and what you want. Please use the link in the next paragraph to contact me, telling me where you are and giving me an idea of what you'd like me to do.

CONTACTING ME
Thank you for taking the trouble to read all this. If you'd like to make a special maths group enquiry please use this address:

Check my dates

"I want to say a massive thank you as it was brilliant this morning, the students (and staff) really enjoyed it and it was really good to raise the profile of maths!"
Cath Jespers, Boston Spa School

Feb 2010 300 year 5's from feeder schools arriving and warming up with some
puzzles on the screen at Fullbrook College, February 2010.

"Thanks for this morning Kjartan. 50 people of all ages went home feeling good and well entertained even though they'd been engaging with 2 hours of mathematics."
Mike Cooper, Humberside Maths Association

"Today's talk ranks as the most entertaining event we have ever had!"
Victoria Nemeth, maths coordinator, Highgate Junior School

12 North Yorkshire School teams compete in The MATHS QUIZ!

"How to follow that? The place is abuzz with a wonderful positive vibe..."
David Bywater, head of maths, Fettes College Edinburgh

Santa Sabina Oct 2014
Making flexagons with the ladies at Santa Sabina School, Dublin.

Here's my favourite bit of jaw-droppingly unexpected maths!

It explains how Pythagorean triples are linked to the Fibonacci Series.
(This is suitable for older G&T groups.)

The image is taken from my book The Murderous Maths of Everything

Boring but necessary...

REQUIREMENTS These are all detailed on my author appearances page but generally I need:

  • Projector and screen for powerpoint
  • Flip chart with paper
  • A working p.a. system (for audiences over 120)
  • A bottle of still water.
  • STAFF: an adequate number of responsible staff MUST be present at all times. This is for insurance purposes and if necessary, to deal with any excessive disruption. (see next section)

DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOUR This is very rarely an issue with top maths groups... but please be aware of my policy towards it!
I enjoy and encourage a lively atmosphere in my sessions but sometimes a kid crosses the line between high spirits and disruption, and when this happens I will move them to a seat away from their mates. No problem.

However if I'm faced with individuals or groups who are repeatedly disruptive, it makes it impossible for anyone else to pay attention to what I'm doing. This is particularily unfair on keen maths students who have come for a unique opportunity to enjoy themselves. If you know that you have people who are likely to be repeatedly disruptive, either they must be monitored very closely, or better still, excluded from the start.

DBS checks. Please read this! DBS and visiting authors

CONTACTING ME
Thank you for taking the trouble to read all this. If you'd like to make an enquiry please use this address:

Check my dates

Full details of my sessions and everything else are at my author appearances page