Math Fairs for Engaging Students
Time to Start Planning for Math Awareness Month in April
Sep 12, 2008
There are two types of math fairs for K-12 education. The first is a math fair for high school students to conduct mathematical investigations, similar to science fairs. The second type of math fair is for elementary and middle school students. This fair allows students throughout the school to visit math stations and experience math.
The high school math fair is student driven, as students develop projects that deal with mathematical topics. This fair is uses judges and awards are given. This math fair is open to all students. The math content focus is on higher levels of mathematics, such as: algebra II, calculus, and advanced placement math courses.
The lower grades math fair is teacher driven, as teachers set up exhibits focused on graphing, measurement, number games, statistics, math puzzles, and more. Besides being open for students to attend during the school day, there is one night open for both parents and students to attend.
The introduction of a math fair, following the idea of a science fair, provides greater opportunities for students to reach or exceed the No Child Left Behind Act (2001) standards for mathematics by 2013 and beyond. All categories in a math fair should follow the Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (2000).
High School Math Fairs
Student driven high school math fairs are ideal for students to display their understanding and connection of math with the real world. The math fair should have the following primary categories as a minimum:
- Number and Operations – numbers, systems, and relationships
- Algebra – patterns, relationships, and functions
- Geometry – shapes and geometric arguments
- Measurement – units, systems, and processes
- Data Analysis and Probability – data collection, analysis, and conjecture
Additional categories include:
- Computer Math Program Development
- Board Math Game Development
- Web-based Math Game Development
Elementary and Middle School Math Fairs
These teacher driven math fairs provide opportunities for students or math classes to develop displays of math applications they have studied and learned about during the year. With the guidance of teachers students can prepare displays that meet the same primary high school categories.
Examples of math fair projects which can be displayed include:
- Math in Sports – football, soccer, baseball, basketball, etc.
- Geometry – student developed applications of symmetry, fractals, origami, etc.
- Music – the mathematics of music
- Sudoku – problem solving
- Cooking – math used in cooking
- Games – student developed board games, math card games, etc.
- Online Interactive Math – games, puzzles, problem solving, etc.
- Graphing – data collection and analysis
Math Fair Resources
There are many resources available for teachers who want to host a math fair. The following are sample resources available:
- Focus on Mathematics – provides procedures and guidelines for student driven high school math fairs.
- SNAP – stands for student centered, non-competitive, all inclusive, and problem solving math fairs for elementary and middle schools (mathfair.com).
- Wolfville School Math Fair – provides the how to procedures for holding s teacher driven math fair.
Math fairs provide an opportunity for students to make the connection of math and the real world. This connection is important for helping students meet the required standards for the No Child Left Behind Act. Also, they help students with the age old question, “What will I every use this math for in my life?”
Visit Math Problem Solving Stories and Process Skills and Four Math Games for Elementary Students for additional ideas and strategies for math fair projects.
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