Families + Math Games = Fun and Excitement!

Can math be fun? A definite “yes” was the answer from families who attended Family Math Night at Lakeside Middle School. Games that used algebra, probability, geometry, and number sense were enjoyed by families on Wednesday, January 23rd. This evening event was coordinated by Instructional Math Coach Mrs. Mille Brezinski, with help from parent volunteers, student volunteers, and Mrs. Maxie Rogers, ASAP Youth and Community Specialist. Our middle school students spent three lunch periods in training with Mrs. Brezinski in preparation for the night.

“Estimation Alley” was the first math activity that greeted the participants. Ten containers held a variety of items. Each member of a family could estimate how many items were in the container and enter their estimate to win it. Three eighth graders and a sixth grader all used the same strategy to make their estimations. They counted the number of items that they could see on the bottom of the container; then they counted a row “going up.” By multiplying these two numbers they arrived at their estimate. “It’s like an area equation,” explained one of the eighth graders. A few parents used other strategies; Julie Flemming made “an educated guess,” while Jeff Williams justified his method of shaking and listening to the container as, “determining the weight and volume by the sound of the container when I shake it.” His son strategy proved more effective as he won two of the containers.

Families then went to predetermined classrooms to play math games. For those arriving in the classroom a little early, a geometry game with eleven puzzles awaited them. Using toothpicks, they were challenged to create different Lisa Canning enjoyed this game. “ I have actually looked forward to this,” explained, Mrs. Canning. “I’m having a great time so far. I think it’s good when they do these projects, to see the parents and kids out together. It helps to keep the parents involved. It gives us a chance to see the teachers, too.” Greg Cerge and son agreed, “We’re having a ball.”

Next, four math games were played, all led by a pair of middle school students. First, was the Staircase Game, involving number sense and probability to form the largest possible number and in turn, the highest sum. Families were given a grid forming a “staircase.” Using a ten sided die, 0 - 9, the student leaders rolled a number. For the first round there was only one choice, the spot at the top of the staircase, or ones column. Moving down the staircase, round two offered two choices (the ones and tens column). With the roll of the die, families had to determine the probability of a larger or smaller number being rolled next, thereby determining if they should put the first number in the ones or the tens column. For example, depending on their choice, they could end up with a 45 or 54. Ten rounds were played.

The next two games involved geometry. In Build the Highest Tower, families were challenged to construct the highest freestanding tower possible, using only two sheets of paper, 10 paper clips, and scissors. Measurement and creative problem solving were also a part of this challenge. All Squared Up had families counting squares formed by a 4 x 4, 8 x 8, or 10 x 10 grid. They were to organize the information and look for patterns.
The last game, Krypo, was an algebra and number sense game. Given a set of five numbers, families were to use addition, subtraction, multiplication and/or division to reach a predetermined solution. Each number could be used only once. Round one included 1,2,4,7,3,2, with the solution to be 10.

Through these games, families honed their math skills. When asked if the games were fun, Ron Marsh responded, “Yes, definitely! I’m here to support her (his daughter) and to get her excited about math.” Excitement was experienced during the evening; more than a few families became so engaged that they became a bit competitive with each other! Excitement about math was the solution at Family Math Night!