Middle Years Students Using Mathematics to Communicate a Local Issue

Middle Years students often do not see the value and usefulness of mathematics while the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics aims for students to be “confident and creative users and communicators of mathematics” (ACARA, 2012). This paper discusses how a group of middle year students have used mathematics to communicate a local issue. The data were analysed in terms of the ‘working mathematically’ moments, in particular problem negotiation, formulation, and solving. The paper will show how these students have made a difference in their local community by using mathematics to communicate the young people’s view.