In a Mathematical Search, students were given a body of text to read. These were based
on themes and topics that were being taught in classes, such as Indigenous Australians,
Gold Rushes, and Environmental Pests. Their task was to describe the mathematical ideas
in the text and what the mathematics told about the main ideas in the text, and to use the
mathematical ideas to explain some of the patterns, trends and any apparent inconsistencies
in the text. The purpose of the Mathematical Search was to encourage students actively to
seek mathematical concepts and facts embedded in any of a variety of contextual situations.
In this study, students were also asked to pose questions about the text using the
mathematical ideas described. The Mathematical Search was supported by other teaching
and learning strategies such as concept mapping, graph scaffolding, debriefing discussions
following a Mathematical Search, and one-to-one interviewing.