Maths-In-A-Box

Maths-In-A-Box was a BBC Schools educational TV programme, combining elements of Mathematics and problem solving. The plot involved a girl Tracey Dixon and her friend and neighbour Paul who meet alien visitor Powka from the planet Scooter. He travels in a ship that resembles a small cube, mistaken for board game dice. By reciting the magic words ‘Tiki tiki tox, out of the box’, Powka is able to leave his ship and grow to the size of a normal man. Paul and Tracey are able to shrink down and accompany Powka back into the box by reciting the magic words. Paul and Tracy spend the series teaching Powka basic number techniques, geometry and measurements. The series cast the children as teachers and Powka, the adult figure, as the pupil. The mathematical concepts are all based on real-life examples and there are fun subplots involving Powka being visible only to children not adults.