Math is fun and can be learned quickly if you make it a game.
Clarksdale Municipal School District Career and Technology Education high school students recently rolled out the board game “Medieval Math” for junior high kids.
“We started work on this concept when school first started and this is the culmination of a lot of hard work by this team,” said Johterrian Evans, team leader for the project. “But it’s deeper than a board game. The concept is to get kids to play the game and without even knowing it learn math.”
The game has Medieval characters work their way around the board to a castle. Along the way they have to use math to move and figure out the best moves that will get them to the castle and crown quickest. Incorrect answers and poor choices cost you spaces and time.
The game is aimed and fifth and six graders and teaches addition, substraction, multiplication and division, but it also teaches fractions and solutions with optimum results.
“These are some very smart students and they figured out the rule and concept for the game and then physically built the board, pieces and even the box, all designed to teach kids math skills as they use and play the game.”
Evans said kids learn the game in minutes - they tested it on students - and can play it for hours.
“We found a little competition made kids want to learn these math skills,” said Evans. “We also ask teachers to watch students play so they can see where students need extra instruction to improve their math skills.”
The game was unveiled at Lab Day at the Carl Keen Career and Technology Center earlier this month and has been handed out to teachers and students.
