“THE ROOM OF MYSTERIES” PROJECT FOR THE THIRD GRADE

One of the important components of mathematical competence is the ability to solve practical tasks. According to G. Hristova “... with the teaching of mathematics in elementary classes, the skills to learn, to handle information, to communicate, to work independently and to work in a team are formed in the students” [4]. K. Alexieva stresses in her publication that “key competences are interdependent and represent a set of knowledge, skills and relationships necessary for the individual's personal development throughout life, for building an active civic position and participation in social life as well as for the suitability for his/her realization on the labour market. Through learning in each of the subjects, key competence learning skills are acquired, which includes understanding the personal needs in the learning process and discovering the opportunities and abilities to overcome learning difficulties, both individually and in groups; critical thinking, problem solving and decision making, initiative, creativity, responsibility, teamwork, and other key competences specified in the curriculum [1]. The ability to solve practical tasks develops to a greater extent in group, teamwork on projects. Project work is one of the active learning methods. It is not widely accepted in modern mathematical education in Bulgaria. The reasons for this are many. One of them is the lack of methodological literature on the subject for elementary teachers. Many specialists organize project work with their students, including mathematics, but their experience remains unpopular. Project work is difficult to organize, involves serious planning, and often involves spending money to buy the necessary materials. To successfully integrate into project activities, it is necessary for the young students to have a certain degree of autonomy, organizational skills, communicative skills, teamwork skills, skills for individual search of information, presentation skills, and so on. Teachers with creative abilities and innovative ideas develop, organize, and work on projects in primary school but this is a matter of their goodwill and professional skills. Mathematics teaching specialists in primary schools are in debt to primary school teachers in terms of published methodological work and project activities, including mathematics. Teachers' books for mathematics curricula for primary classes should include developments of at least one class project. This is done in the Bulgarian mathematics training kits of Anubis Publishing House, where I am the author [2] [3]. In this article I will present a description of the project – Thematic Classroom “The Room of Mysteries” for the third grade. It would be good the lesson to be held at the end of the school year. It solves tasks from all of the learning content studied in mathematics in the third grade. The idea of the project is based on the so-called “Escape Room” – a place where participants have to solve a series of puzzles to leave the room. Students of the class will not be locked in their classroom, of course. They will find a locked suitcase in their room that they want to unlock to see what's in it. For better motivation students will be given the role of police inspectors, who will be divided into 6 teams to solve a series of challenges – tasks. The lesson is held in the presence of parents and relatives of the students. A team of “veteran investigators” is formed from the parents, who also have to solve puzzles. Solving each task will lead to the opening of a new puzzle, and so pupils and parents will have to deal with a series of challenges that will lead to the discovery of 7 keys, identical at first glance, only one of which unlocks the briefcase. The prize, hidden away from the students, may be their annual third-grade certificates, may be holiday books for the end of the year as well as small gifts. Materials required for the project are purchased in advance with funds collected from students' parents.