70 | August• 2017
LET YOUR FINGERS DO THE COUNTING
That may sound simplistic, but
the researchers at Stanford offer an
interesting anecdotal hypothesis:
“The need for and importance of
finger perception could even be the
reason that pianists and other musi-
cians often display higher mathemati-
cal understanding than people who
don’t learn a musical instrument.”
To that end, Stanford’s Youcubed
centre, which develops resources for
maths teachers, has devised a series of
activities to strengthen students’ per-
ception of their fingers. We’ve
included one of them here (see right)
for you to try at home. For keyboard
templates and more activities, go to
youcubed.org.
THE PIANO EXERCISEYou’ll need a series of paper
‘keyboards’ like the one below,
each with the colours in different
spots. Put a coloured dot on each
finger, as shown. Starting with the
key on the far
left, touch the
corresponding
finger to each
coloured ‘piano
key’ and hold
for a few seconds.
Work through all
five keys. Switch
hands, then add
new keyboards.
EXERCISE © 2016 YOUCUBED, COURTESY STANFORD UNIVERSITY5 OBSCURE RULES THAT ARE STILL IN FORCE
Like getting tipsy in a pub? Sorry, but you may be breaking the
law! That legislation is one of a series of strange rules that are still
on the statute books in the UK.- All beached whales and sturgeons must be handed in
to the reigning monarch (date: 1322). - Handling fish – including a salmon – you suspect has been
poached or stolen is an offence (1986). - Penalties for anyone found drunk on licensed premises (1872).
- Rolling a cask, tub, hoop or wheel, or carrying a ladder, plank or
pole on a footway is illegal (1839). - Being drunk while in charge of a carriage, horse, cattle, steam
engine or a loaded firearm is an offence (1872). In 2009, Godfrey
Blacklin was prosecuted after he admitted drinking several cans
of lager before riding a horse bareback through the town
of Wallsend. SOURCE: DAILYMAIL.CO.UK