- Your gym is divided into four ENGAGING math zones with students moving through each zone working together in teams to complete as many math activities as possible in four timed
periods. - Teams are coached by intermediate students who take part in a 45 minute leadership training prior to the arrival of the participants.
- Music, visual images & high energy fuels the day with scores being tabulated & celebrated at the end of each zone motivating students to keep working towards a common GOAL
of completing THOUSANDS of MATH QUESTIONS together in one day! - MATHLETES concludes with a ribbon ceremony for ALL students as they CELEBRATE their MATH accomplishments.
What are the 4 Mathletes activities?
The MATHLETES
activities were designed in accordance with the Ontario Mathematics Curriculum for each grade from 3 to 6 and include all strands in the mathematical process such as:
- Number Sense & Numeration
- Geometry and Spatial Sense
- Patterning and Algebra
- Measurement Data
Management and Probability
Just as the Ontario Mathematics Curriculum recognizes different learning styles and understands that all students do not necessarily learn mathematics in the same way so does MATHLETES with
each activity allowing for ACTIVE participation for all students at their skill level.
NOTE: Two zones employ pencil to paper calculation & two zones employ hands on activities with manipulatitves.
The 4 MATHLETES activities consist of the following:
- Pentomino Challenges Supports logical thinking and problem-solving and explores area, perimeter, symmetry, and congruence. The use of these manipulatives allows students to see patterns and relationships making connections between the concrete and the abstract. 2D pentominoes are used for grades 3, 4, & 5 students. 3D pentominoes are used for the grade 6 students to vary the level of difficulty.
- Word Problems & Brain Teasers Brings together the ability to combine words, numbers, graphs, pictures, diagrams & tables with questions that relate mathematics to real life situations which spill over into other facets of life relevant for students. The word problems in MATHLETES vary from level 1 to level 4 with a variety of thought provoking brain teaser diagrams as well as traditional word problems. Some questions require that the students write out their steps, others can be done mentally while others need to be acted out with their teammates to reach an answer.
- Tangram Puzzles Helps students develop mathematical concepts of fractions, spatial awareness & geometry in an interesting, engaging, and authentic hands on activity with manipulatives that
have both geometric and artistic features. The puzzles used vary in levels of difficulty and are different for each grade level.
- Mathcodes This activity has students breaking codes by solving addition, subtraction, multiplication & division questions that follow patterns. As students progress thorough the questions they
transpose their numerical answers into letters to solve the clue given at the beginning of the question resulting in their answer evolving into a word to solve the Mathcode. This zone ties math and literacy together in a fun way and requires many ‘minute math” type calculations. The questions range from level 1 to level 4. This activity is action packed and the students love it.
