The World Math Day
In the World Math Day, children from across the globe unite in their quest to set a world record in answering mental arithmetic questions. This event involves more than a million students from 160 countries.Why should your or my children participate? Well, they might love being part of setting a world record! And it's just simple math questions!
Also good to know:
* The event is designed for all ages and ability levels.
* There are prizes.
* And it's FREE!
How will it work?
Simply register your kids online. The actual event will take place in real-time. Kids will answer simple arithmetic questions and play live with other students around the globe.
In 2008 more than one million children from 160 countries combined to correctly answer 182,455,169 questions. This year, they try to break this record.
World Math Day takes place on 4 March, 2009. Please register here: www.WorldMathDay.com.
The Human Calculator Scott Flansburg, the Guiness Record Holder for "Fastest Human Calculator", has been appointed the Global Patron for World Math Day 2009.
Update: The world record was broken. The 1,952,879 students who took part correctly answered 452,681,681 arithmetic questions. Kaya Genc, an 11-year old student from Australia, ended up being the World Math Day Champion for 2009 by answering correctly 129,106 questions in 48 hours.
The LEVELS
I received some more information about World Math Day levels and ages.
Level 1 Ages 5-7 Addition within 0-10
Level 2 Ages 8-9 Addition within 0-20, Subtraction within 0-10
Level 3 Ages 10-11 Addition within 0-99, Subtraction within 0-20
Multiplication tables of 2 and 5
Level 4 Ages 12+ Addition and subtraction within 0-99
basic multiplication and division facts
If you want your child to be on level 4, sign her up with an age 12 or older. Once you sign up, these levels cannot be changed. So if your child is ahead in grade levels, put in the child's "age" based on the levels explained above.
I registered my oldest daughter. She's enjoyed competing against other kids around the globe. Each competition takes 1 minute and the program finds 2-3 other kids to compete against. She also likes that you can choose the hair color, style, and hat or other head piece for your virtual character.
The Date
As the event runs for as long as it is 4 March somewhere in the world, this means the event runs for a total of 48 hours. World Math Day commences when it is midnight in New Zealand – being 6.00am 3 March in Washington.
Comments
After reading your post I registered for free my son and daughter for World Math Day. I am amazed at how much fun my children and I are having on the practise site. We cant wait for March 4.
I'm suprised just how fun and motivated my childen are about Math. A fantastic resource and Free. Thanks Maria. You always have such helpful hints.
I stumbled across your blog and wanted to let you know that DreamBox learning is celebrating World Math Day too!
Please check out our Math Learning blog at: http://www.dreambox.com/blog/
Curious on the experience?
I am an educator in a public middle school and my students have participated in World Math Day for two years now. The site has made many improvements but I agree that the levels are frustrating. Last year you could move up and down levels. Let me know if they company responds. Also, keep up the good work! You are sure to be raising a child that loves learning, wish I had parents like you for my students! :)
However, I think that having kids compete for 16 plus hours in a two day period to accumulate 65,199 points is a little excessive. It may be addicting, but lets be realistic, most kids can't get that much time on the computer, and shouldn't get that much time either.