SIR CUMFERENCE AND THE VIKING'S MAP
Author: Cindy Neuschwander
Illustrator: Wayne Geehan
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Number of pages: 32
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (USA) First published in: 2012 Format: Picturebook Is the mathematical focus explicit in the story? Yes Is this story part of a mathematics story series? Yes (Sir Cumference and Charlesbridge's Math Adventure) Preview and/or purchase this book on the Amazon websites: UK, USA, AUS, CAN Synopsis by the author/publisher
Radius and Per find a mysterious map that promises to lead them to treasure of the greatest measure. If they can decode the strange numbered grid on the map and avoid a bunch of bungling bandits they just might discover the horde of the legendary Viking Xaxon Yellowbearyd. |
“"If the first number tells us which way to go on the X ax," reasoned Radius, "the second number must tell us which way to go on the Y ax. It's like the alphabet - X comes before Y. The next set of numbers is (2, -1), so when we get to the mile two marker we'll go down the Y ax here."”
Official review by MathsThroughStories.org:
Cindy Neuschwander’s (2012) ‘Sir Cumference and the Viking’s Map’ is the seventh title in the Sir Cumference series. The story follows a girl, named Per, and her cousin, Radius, who are lost in a forest. By chance, they stumble upon an odd-looking Viking map with numbered grids drawn over it, with two intersecting X and Y axes in the middle. The back of the map reveals a coded message indicating (3, 0) coordinates as the starting point to find the Viking’s most valued treasure. Per and Radius use their new found skill in map coordinate reading to get them from one place to another until they finally find a hidden treasure which helps them find their way back to the castle. The story is engaging and is like a children’s and mathematical version of The Da Vinci Code. It does a great job in enticing young children to learn about map coordinate reading without them necessarily realising it. All in all, ‘Sir Cumference and the Viking’s Map’ is a wonderful story picture book to introduce or reinforce the concept of grid coordinates to children aged 9+ years old. (Disclaimer: We received a complimentary inspection copy of this book from the publisher/author)
Recommended age range:
9+ years old
Relevant mathematics topics:
Positioning & Mapping
Possible teaching activities:
At MathsThroughStories.org, we believe that stories can be meaningfully incorporated in mathematics teaching in different ways. Thus, we are inviting you to share your experience of how you have used this story in your mathematics lesson with other members of the community. By sharing your experience with us, you will be added to our team of On-line Contributors here, where you can also find our submission guideline.
Cindy Neuschwander’s (2012) ‘Sir Cumference and the Viking’s Map’ is the seventh title in the Sir Cumference series. The story follows a girl, named Per, and her cousin, Radius, who are lost in a forest. By chance, they stumble upon an odd-looking Viking map with numbered grids drawn over it, with two intersecting X and Y axes in the middle. The back of the map reveals a coded message indicating (3, 0) coordinates as the starting point to find the Viking’s most valued treasure. Per and Radius use their new found skill in map coordinate reading to get them from one place to another until they finally find a hidden treasure which helps them find their way back to the castle. The story is engaging and is like a children’s and mathematical version of The Da Vinci Code. It does a great job in enticing young children to learn about map coordinate reading without them necessarily realising it. All in all, ‘Sir Cumference and the Viking’s Map’ is a wonderful story picture book to introduce or reinforce the concept of grid coordinates to children aged 9+ years old. (Disclaimer: We received a complimentary inspection copy of this book from the publisher/author)
Recommended age range:
9+ years old
Relevant mathematics topics:
Positioning & Mapping
Possible teaching activities:
At MathsThroughStories.org, we believe that stories can be meaningfully incorporated in mathematics teaching in different ways. Thus, we are inviting you to share your experience of how you have used this story in your mathematics lesson with other members of the community. By sharing your experience with us, you will be added to our team of On-line Contributors here, where you can also find our submission guideline.
