Practical Applications capture student's imagination

Many students can't relate to maths until they come across something that sparks their imagination. This student likes Doll's Houses and so we engaged with some practical measurement activities with The Maths Room Dolls House. The production of a scale diagram (plan view) of the ground floor of the doll's house involved many measurements, area of the floor and balcony, doors, windows, window frames, the use of symbols and symmetry. It was a terrific first attempt at such an activity and the student did very well indeed and I could sense her feelings of success and achievement.