For the 10th year in a row, 25 schools from across northern Santa Barbara County tested their math and teamwork skills Tuesday morning at the Santa Maria Fairpark.
The North County Math Super Bowl attracted teams from Santa Maria, Orcutt, Lompoc, Santa Ynez Valley and Sisquoc schools, with fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade teams practicing since September for the culminating event.
This year, however, the competition focused more on team-building and collaboration skills as opposed to strictly math, according to Christina Samaniego, of Orcutt Union School District Educational Services Department and Math Super Bowl coordinator.
“It’s good for them to start learning their strengths, what they bring to a team and how to be successful,” Samaniego explained.
The Math Super Bowl began with an hourlong individual math test, which challenged the students with multiple choice and problem-solving questions.
The competition then moved into a 30-minute group math challenge, which involved a series of questions that teammates had to solve by collaborating and checking each other's answers.
The sixth-grade math team from Orcutt Academy K-8 in Los Alamos was almost done with the team challenge shortly after it began, with four out of five questions answered within the first 15 minutes.
“We’re working together as a team, getting it done and having a lot of fun while doing it,” Lauren Picek said. “We’re working with everyone and splitting up the problems.”
Miller School fifth-grade teacher and math team coach Krista Kringel explained the preparation that goes into making sure the Math Super Bowl is a success. Miller’s math team also participated in Santa Maria-Bonita School District’s Math Super Bowl in April.
Kringel and two other teachers from Miller meet with their student “mathletes” once a week after school and practice individual tests, team problems and group-building skills.
“You have to be good at teamwork, cooperation and supporting each other's ideas,” Kringel said. “Everyone has something to share, so it works out.”
Kringel added, “For kids who are good at math, this is a great outlet for them. It’s something they can shine in."
Following the group math problem, the competition moved into the most exciting phase for everyone involved -- the construction and building portion.
Although students practice building and construction problems based on previous competitions throughout the year, coaches and teams have no idea what their challenge will be on competition day.
According to Samaniego, Tuesday’s challenge fit the team work and collaboration theme of this year’s Math Super Bowl perfectly.
Math teams were given 25 minutes to construct the tallest freestanding tower of plastic cups in the shortest amount of time using eight plastic cups, eight feet of yarn, two rubber bands and a pair of scissors.
Students were required to, first, create a tool using the scissors, yarn and rubber bands that would allow them to construct the tower without touching the cups.
Miller School’s fourth-grade team executed the teamwork objective of the Math Super Bowl by creating a tool that each of the four students had to use simultaneously to construct their tower.
By creating a round, stretchy grip tool using the rubber bands, the students attached four pieces of yarn to each corner, allowing them to pull and expand the rubber band to fit over the cups, move them and stretch the bands again to release them.
At a time when young students are focused on learning STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields through technology, parents of students who are interested in mathematics said they’re proud to watch their children competing in an event like Tuesday’s.
Andy and Julie Jones traveled from Lompoc to watch their son, a fifth-grader at Buena Vista Elementary, compete. Andy explained that for the entire school year, his son came home and talked about what he was learning and practicing in his math team at school.
“He was pretty excited about it,” Andy said.
Julie added, “It’s a big event, and we didn’t want to miss it. Recognition for something you enjoy is always exciting and a great feeling of accomplishment when you work on something challenging and get it right.
“It makes academics fun in this environment where he’s practicing and learning with friends. He’s always proud when (his team) gets it right.”
Krista Chandler covers education in Santa Maria for Lee Central Coast News. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @KristasBeat.
