Game of 24 paves the path for the next generation of great thinkers.


April 23, 2012

 

What the spelling bee is to some folks, the Mathematics Challenge 24, or Game of 24, math tournament is for others: a heart-stopping, edge-of-chair suspense-filled face-off between the PWCS students who are the best at the Game of 24 in grades three through eight. Students look for patterns to make “24” using all mathematical operations appropriate to each grade level.

 

And it all happens behind closed doors, in rooms where only the students are allowed, along with the proctors at each table of four students. Proctors determine whether the play is correct. In round one and round two, scores are added and the top 16 play in the third round, then four students play in the semifinal round to determine the champion. There are sometimes tearful eliminations, but in the end, students are often resolved to play again next year.

 

“It’s a game, with a message that math is fun,” said Donna Stofko, Elementary Mathematics Coordinator. Students who sign up to compete practice for months, said Stofko.

 

This year’s tournament was held April 14 at Godwin Middle School. More than 100 students from 21 different elementary and middle schools vied for the Challenge 24 title, but only six students went home with first place awards. This year’s Math 24 champions are Christopher Johnson, Westridge Elementary School; Daniel Choi, Westridge Elementary School; Joseph Wampler, Nokesville Elementary School; Clifford Colley, Lake Ridge Middle School; Tian Low, Woodbridge Middle School; and Jonathan Zheng, Benton Middle School.

 

Participation in the tournament is by invitation only. The participating students won grade-level competitions at their individual schools, earning the honor of representing their school at the Divisionwide tournament.

 

“Students are introduced to the game in the beginning of the year, and some cannot get enough of it,” said Stofko.

 

Mathematics is the science and language of patterns. In the Game of 24, students look for patterns using all mathematical operations to come up with the answer 24. This club program has evolved into an effective means of reaching a broad spectrum of students within our School Division community with the message that “Math is Fun. I can learn math.”

 

Students in grades 3–9 not only practice basic mathematics facts in the areas of whole numbers, fractions, decimals, exponents, and algebra, they become adept at mental math, communicating mathematically, validating their thinking, and recognizing multiple ways to solve problems.

 

“The added benefit is that all this thinking and problem solving is disguised as a game, helping to create a new generation of thinkers,” said Stofko.

 

The following students placed at the competition:

 

Grade 3: Christopher Johnson, Westridge Elementary School, first place; Christopher Turner, Westridge Elementary School, second place; Addy Behrani, Buckland Mills Elementary School, and third place; Katie Dawson, Nokesville Elementary School, fourth place.

 

Grade 4: Daniel Choi, Westridge Elementary School, first place; Joshua Boisvert, Westridge Elementary School, second place; Urvi Pisal, Buckland Mills Elementary School, third place; and Bailey Robinson, Ellis Elementary School, fourth place.

 

Grade 5: Joseph Wampler, Nokesville Elementary School, first place; Akilesh Mahesh, Glenkirk Elementary School, second place; Katerina Bakhtiari, T. Clay Wood Elementary School, third place; and Benedict Keating, Ellis Elementary School, fourth place.

 

Grade 6: Clifford Colley, Lake Ridge Middle School, first place; Jessica Cao, Potomac Middle School, second place; Jordan Colley, Lake Ridge Middle School, third place; and Mariam Abdi, Lake Ridge Middle School, fourth place.

 

Grade 7: Tian Low, Woodbridge Middle School, first place; Daniel Te, Benton Middle School, second place; Scott Monsanto, Godwin Middle School, third place; and Dylan Nohilly, Lake Ridge Middle School, fourth place.

 

Grade 8: Jonathan Zheng, Benton Middle School, first place; Steven Trieu, Benton Middle School, second place; Ha-Eun Um, Fred Lynn Middle School, third place; and Janhvi Shah, Lake Ridge Middle School, fourth place.