Students train for the big math game

They’re in training.

They want to be in top shape for the big competition.

But it’s not their bodies they are exercising; it’s their minds.

El Morro Elementary School’s fifth-grade “Math Stars” have been

working diligently with math coach Mark Lewis, meeting every Friday,

learning myriad math concepts. Their knowledge will be put to the

test against other Orange County school teams at a competition at

Saddleback College on May 21.

“We’re going to do estimation today, figuring out how many cups

will fit in this pot; it’s interactive and fun,” Lewis said. “We also

do a dice game probability exercise, getting teams to solve problems,

learn about leadership and discussing it with your team -- your way

and my way and coming together the right way.”

With each exercise, the teams worked together, enjoying the

process, deliberating which answer was correct.

“Discuss it as a team; you have about 30 seconds,” Lewis said.

“Ok, go up to the board and write your team’s answer.”

In one exercise they had to estimate the length and width of a

table.

“You can’t use anything, only visualization,” Lewis said. “You

have to start doing it completely blind, natural estimation.”

Lewis said the students could use comparative tools to think of

with relative dimensions.

“Now we’re working on an exercise that shows us the process of

elimination; you take all the clues and cross out the ones that

wouldn’t be,” Alison Romano, 10, said. “That’s how you find the

answer. It helps us exercise our skills of eliminating and finding

answers.”

To solve an estimation problem, Alison said she uses something she

already knows that’s similar in size and applies that to what she has

to figure out. She said that technique works well.

Luke Barker said his favorite type of math is algebra and finding

out the value of “N.”

“Mr. Lewis is teaching us quick division with flash cards, algebra

-- all math,” Luke said.

Lewis said the competition would include estimating, geometry,

statistics and probability, reasoning and algebra.

Lewis gave an example. With statistics and probability the team

will have to go through an exercise, rolling dice a certain number of

times, figuring out how many times a certain combination would come

up.

“You have to predict ahead of time, then go through the exercise,”

Lewis said.

Only four of the nine math stars could be designated to go to the

competition. Lewis announced that Alison, Brandon Lewis, 10, Jake

Thalman, 11, and Santi Pierini, 11 would represent El Morro school as

a team.

“I think I was chosen because I’m one of the smartest kids in my

class,” Brandon said. “My strengths are flash cards and solving for

‘N.’”