The Primary Maths Podcast Exploding Rainbows - Connecting Science and Maths with Leonie Briggs
At school, maths and science are often treated as separate subjects. But in reality, the two are deeply connected, from data collection and measurement to problem solving and pattern spotting. In this episode, Jon Cripwell speaks with Leonie Briggs, award-winning educator, author, and founder of AmazeLab, about how we can make those links explicit and bring both subjects to life for children.
Leonie shares how her career journey from veterinary practice to education shaped her practical approach to teaching, why she believes science should be colourful and creative, and how teachers can build pupils’ confidence by connecting learning across the curriculum. The conversation explores simple, memorable ways to integrate maths into science lessons (and vice versa) while keeping activities manageable and meaningful in a busy classroom.
In This Episode
- Leonie’s journey from veterinary and orthopaedic practice to science education
- How real-world applications of maths strengthen scientific understanding
- What “STEAM” means, and why adding the Arts can help break down barriers to learning
- Ways to embed maths naturally within science investigations
- How cross-curricular links can make learning more memorable and inclusive
- The importance of teacher collaboration and reflection when planning integrated lessons
- Leonie’s experience as a National Numeracy Champion and how to get involved
- Practical ideas to make STEM and STEAM hands-on without adding workload
Resources and Links Mentioned
- Make Your Own Rainbow: A Colourful Approach to All Things STEAM by Leonie Briggs
- AmazeLab : www.amazelab.co.uk
- National Numeracy – information about becoming a National Numeracy Champion: www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk
- Previous Episode: Supporting Pupils with SEND in Maths with Georgina Durrant
- The Aftermaths (Friday episodes) – reflections, takeaways, and The Maths of Life segment:
Key Quotes
“Nothing works without maths. From pulleys and catapults to chromatography and colour, every part of science depends on mathematical thinking.”
“If we want children to see maths as useful and meaningful, we have to let them experience it through the world around them.”
“Creativity isn’t separate from STEM. The arts help us make ideas visible, tangible and memorable.”
About Leonie Briggs
Leonie Briggs is an award-winning educator, author and founder of AmazeLab, a science and STEAM education company that creates hands-on, practical learning experiences for schools. She has taught across primary, secondary and post-16 settings and is a passionate advocate for creative, accessible STEM education. Leonie is also a National Numeracy Champion, supporting initiatives to build confidence with numbers for learners of all ages.
Find Leonie on LinkedIn or visit www.amazelab.co.uk.
About the Host
Jon Cripwell is the National Education Lead for Primary Maths at Twinkl. He works with schools, trusts, and maths hubs to support high-quality teaching and learning, and hosts The Primary Maths Podcast, exploring the big ideas and everyday realities of teaching maths in primary schools.
Follow Jon on LinkedIn.
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We’d love to hear your stories from the maths classroom. Send them to primarymathspodcast@twinkl.co.uk, and you might hear them featured in an upcoming episode of The Aftermaths.