Math Fair mixes math and play

As when solving any math equation, students in Lakeland College's university transfer program's higher arithmetic course carefully examined all variables when designing their games for Math Fair.

First, they had to propose three different games to their instructors and have them evaluated to ensure they would engage and teach the elementary students who would be playing them. With the final game selected, 33 university transfer students present them to a group of Grade 2, 3 and 7 students from St. Joseph’s School for an hour-long event that mixed learning and play.

Linsey Haugen, one of the students who participated in the math fair, went into the event unsure about what the children’s reaction would be.

“I was surprised by how engaged the children were,” she says. “You could see how excited they were to be playing and learning at the same time.”

The games included a large Jenga game, life-size snakes and ladders, hoola hoops, bean bag toss, fishing, geometric puzzles, ping pong and more.

While learning essential mathematics skills, the children also learned teamwork and social skills as they worked together to support and learn from one another, which is part of what really impressed Haugen about the event.

She explains that learning techniques like math games are becoming important in the classroom as new methods of teaching develop.

“I think more and more, kids need to be stimulated,” she explains. “When I was in school, we had to make sure we were totally concentrating on the teacher. Today, kids need to move, they need to use props. They need textures and colours. They need to be motivated to learn. We’re finding different ways to teach. It’s important to let children learn through play.”

The Math Fair is one of several hands-on opportunity UT education stream students are given to work with local children and to gain first-hand experience in the classroom. They have also had the chance to tutor children. Haugen is grateful for the experience, as it has helped her gain a greater understanding of her own career goals.

Initially intending to teach younger grades, her experience tutoring Grade 6 students helped her realize how much she’d love to work with older grades as well.

All of her experiences in the classroom have helped Haugen realize the impact that working with children one-on-one can have and left her more excited than ever to begin her career as a teacher.

“It was nice knowing that I made a difference, that the little things I can do like going in to tutor or play math games can have a big impact on the children.”

Photo: Linsey Haugen and an elementary student play math Jenga at the Math Fair.