Math Fair!

by Brandford (Highlander)

How could you make addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, positive/negative integers, fractions, probability and percentages into a game? Having the ability to work closely with the Math Fair organizing lead teacher I was able to see students from 6th - 8th grade engage in a side of math that I wasn't accustom to seeing.

Students that would struggle with math during school or had tutors all focused and became young mathematicians and engineers during the process; which was the most impressive thing for me. Students built a Planko Board, designed a Dinosaur world with a time machine, and constructed a ski ball machine.

Students had approximately 20 schools days to design a game using math concepts such as: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, positive/negative integers, fractions, probability and percentages. Students games would have to be able to be played by both kindergarten through 5th grade and parents.

During the math fair I also had the privilege of being one of the judges. I had to play as many games as possible. The best game that I played which was also the first place winner from my 6th grade classroom was a game called Call Me Maybe. When you sat at the game you would first have to solve ten problems ranging from fractions, multiplying/ dividing positive and negative integers and percentages. Once you solved the ten problems you would take your ten answers and place them on a giant phone board, If the ten numbers was correct you would win and get a ticket for the raffle.