Burnie Counts: creating community through maths

Foreshore maths activities

Visitors to the Burnie foreshore in north-west Tasmania will find mathematics brought to life in a fun and engaging way.

The Burnie Counts Activities program on the Burnie foreshore is the result of a partnership between Burnie High School, four local primary schools, Burnie Council and the Tasmanian Community Fund.

The activities are a part of a broader Burnie Counts Collective project, which has involved Burnie High School, Somerset Primary School, Natone Primary School, Cooee Primary School and Burnie Primary School collaborating to improve student learning outcomes and family engagement in numeracy.

Launched in April 2024 with a barbeque lunch and tour of activities for school children, the activities present an opportunity for families to learn about maths together while enjoying the beautiful Burnie foreshore. The activities are designed to spark interest and curiosity in maths outside of the traditional maths classroom.

The foreshore activities feature:

  • a sea-creature measurement path displaying the size of the ocean’s largest sea creatures
  • a height chart where family members can measure and compare themselves to the heights of Kevin Hart, Sam Kerr, Ariarne Titmus, Chris Hemsworth, Caitlin Bassett and Shaquille O’Neal
  • a giant snakes and ladders board, including a giant spinner
  • a large compass indicating distances to well-known global landmarks (not pictured)

A concrete pathway known as the Maths Trail features painted silhouettes of various animals, detailing their relative sizes and dimensions. The beach is to the left of the path and trees and benches are to the right of the path.

Image used with permission from © Wendy Edwards.

Outdoor basketball court in front of a mural with outlined figures, including a soccer player, superhero, and basketball player, each labelled with heights for measurement.

Interactive outdoor Snakes and Ladders board painted on concrete, featuring colourful squares, snakes, ladders, and a lifebuoy field marked "Roll Again"

Images used with permission of © Wendy Edwards.

The foreshore activities are a great way to build engagement in mathematics, and for families to spend quality time together, building relationships and having rich conversations about how maths can be found all around us.

Impact on the community

The activities also have a positive impact on the community, bringing families down to the Burnie foreshore, helping to build a sense of belonging and community connection.

During school holidays, families can participate in a Maths Trail. Families can scan a QR code displayed at Burnie Library which links them to a Google Form to register and participate, and even compete for prizes for participants. Alternatively, they can collect a hard copy booklet from the library and submit it in a box at the library once they have completed the trail.

A colourful map of Burnie Counts beach showing locations for various activities: beach area, water play, public BBQ, toilets, a basketball court, and a playground. Logos of supporting organisations are at the bottom. Opening in April 2024.

Trail map example provided by © Josh Salter.

Participants follow the trail, stopping along the way at various points to solve posed maths problems and challenges.

A playground with blue triangle shaped shade sails over equipment, including a slide and climbing structure. Grass surrounds the area. Overcast sky and ocean visible in the background.

Storefront of a clothing store with large windows displaying mannequins dressed in various casual outfits.

A multi-story office building with a grid of identical square windows. There are two parked cars in front and a glass door entrance on the ground floor.

Trail map example provided by © Josh Salter.

Our thanks to Josh Salter, Assistant Principal at Burnie High School and Project Leader of the Burnie Counts project, for his time and generosity in sharing the story of the project. Josh received a teaching fellowship at the 2024 Commonwealth Bank National Teaching Awards for his innovative leadership with the project. The Teaching Fellowship includes $25,000 to fund a strategic school project as well as a 12-month professional development program, including coaching and engagement with leading education experts to help further develop skills, networks and capabilities.

Find out more by checking out the Burnie City Council website.