Well, fortunately for you, I have the answer. Thanks to Robert Sun, inventor of amazingly unique Math 24 game, we now have a new game and a new way to learn!
An intellectual thought process goes into this math game. Although there are many ways to play, the overall objective of the game is to make 24 by adding, subtracting, multiplying, and or dividing the four numbers presented on a card. You do not always have to play with “single digits” as the members I met with called them, you can also play with double digits, integers, decimals, or fractions.
When I met with Ridgely Middle School sixth grader Meher Hans, who won a silver medal in the integers competition, Baltimore County Competition, 2011 M&T Bank 24 Challenge Math Tournament, she told me Math 24 not only lets her have fun but it also helps in school. “The cards you play with help you get your facts faster,” she says.
At Ridgely Middle School, the club meets after school every Thursday to practice. During the meeting, all participants get into small groups and play the Math 24 cards repeatedly until they practically memorize them. Elizabeth Charette, the teacher sponsor, says, “They don’t often practice with the fractions or decimals because, with their age group, at the competition they only play with single or double digits and integers; however, when they want to challenge themselves, they go for it!”
Some of group members have been playing for three years, like Koby Bonta, the sixth grade single digits grand champion of the M&T competition, explains, “Single digits is easiest for me; within three seconds I get the answer.” The members say that Math 24 makes the process of memorizing math facts so much easier and way more fun.
Baltimore County participates in one competition each year sponsored by M&T Bank.
This year’s Math 24 Challenge Tournament hosted hundreds of Baltimore County Public Schools Math 24 club members, grades 5 through 8. At the competition, students are split into age groups. In each age group, students play singles, doubles, and integers. In each age group, students can win first through fourth place in addition to bronze, silver and gold medals. Bonta won a savings bond for $700, in addition to his grand champion award. All other finalists won a $100 savings bond.
No wonder so many kids join Math 24 club!
Matilde Cascella, Ridgely Middle School, used her interview skills to learn about Math 24.
Photo by Ashley Forthuber, who practiced her photography skills by taking pictures of the Math 24 Club M&T competition winners.
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