Excited chatter, along with the clicking of beads and clacking of blocks resonated through the gym at Heath Traditional Elementary School where more than 100 Grades 4-7 students from elementary schools across Delta recently took part in the Delta School District’s math challenge.
“It’s fun,” said a girl from Gibson Elementary.
“It’s math fun,” added a boy on her team with a giggle.
For nearly two decades, the math challenge has taken place as a fun way to bring students together from across the district, while testing their problem-solving skills.
Teams of four were presented with four questions, tackled one at a time for 12 minutes.
Volunteer judges made up of teachers and parents provided the students with feedback between the questions.
There were different questions for the Grade 4-5 students and Grade 6-7 students.
“What’s really fascinating and what I love about watching the kids, is sometimes they will go off in a direction that won’t help them find a solution and then one kid brings them back,” said Delta School District mathematics coordinator Donna Bletcher. “This is what happens when we give them the time – they solve the problem.”
Students were given manipulatives to help them solve the problems – various coloured blocks, beads, and boards covered the tables.
Every year, challenge needed to be broken into several time slots, two in North Delta and two in Ladner.
Overall, almost 500 students took part in the math challenge.