More than fun and games at Math Fair

In-person and hands-on opportunities added up to fun for Math Fair 2021.

After a digital hiatus last year, Math Fair returned to its original form this year. University transfer (UT) Math 160 students created math-inspired games and setting up stations in the Jack Kemp Public School gymnasium in Lloydminster, Sask., to teach Grade 3 students that math can be fun.

“Math Fair was so fun,” says Allecia McDonald, a first-year UT student. “It was probably the highlight of math class. All of us in that class are in the education route and of course we’re there because we’re excited about teaching. It was so exciting to go and interact with the children, to see how they interacted with our projects.”

McDonald created a breakout box, using different locks and clues for the students to solve. Once each clue was solved, they would open the locks and find prizes inside the box.

For Jessica Heidel, another first-year UT student, being able to host the Math Fair in person was a critical element to the experience.

“It was pretty important,” she explains. “I know online learning can be really tough, and trying to do things like math or science can be hard to do that way. Going into the school and being able to talk to the students face-to-face definitely made it easier for them, and for us to understand them too.”

Heidel created a fruit-based math game, where the students had to calculate the numerical value of each fruit and then solve equations using the values they calculated.

“Making math into a game definitely helped the students stay engaged longer,” Heidel says. “It gives students something extra to focus on while trying to figure out the problems. The most impactful part of the whole experience was getting to teach the kids how to play the game and walk them through it. I learned how different each student is and how some students will excel and others may need an extra bit of help.”

For McDonald, Math Fair was an opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with children, and also to learn how critical being adaptable is when working in education.

“We went in without having a true understanding of what stage these kids were at,” McDonald explains. “With COVID-19, a lot of the kids may have missed things or fallen behind. With my project, I learned how to adapt and modify it, as well as how to give hints and support without giving away the answer. Those are important skills to help encourage critical thinking in the kids. The whole experience went really well.”

Photos: Top–Allecia McDonald using her breakbox game at the Math Fair. Bottom–Grade 3 students try Jessica Heidel;s fruity math game.