Elementary Students to Take Part in ThinkFun MathDice Competition

May 4, 2012

Distributed by Arlington Public Schools [1]

How can math instruction be fun and engaging while still helping students learn? Combine it with dice and enthusiasm and you have the annual MathDice [2] Tournament. APS elementary students will participate in the ninth annual MathDice Tournament from 9 a.m. – Noon on Sat, May 5 at Carlin Springs Elementary School (5995 S. 5th Rd.) Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

Over 130 fifth graders will participate in the tournament. MathDice teams are made up of four students and two alternates. This year, all 22 elementary schools have a team participating in the tournament. MathDice is sponsored by the Arlington Public Schools Mathematics Office, Thinkfun, and the Arlington Optimist Club.

MathDice was invented in 1998 by 6th grader Sam Ritchie, the son of ThinkFun’s founders, as part of a school Game Invention project. The purpose of the game is to help students stretch their math skills while having fun. Over the years, this "Fast, Fun Game of Mental Math" has sparked a passion for numbers among children worldwide with its simple approach: Roll the two 12-sided dice and multiply to get a target number. Then, roll the three scoring dice and combine these numbers using addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or even powers to build an equation that is closest, or equal to, the target.

At home and in the classroom, parents and teachers use MathDice to motivate kids to learn and challenge their math abilities. The benefits reach beyond the classroom. Kids remain engaged through a variety of fun games and learn to work collaboratively in teams. They tap into problem-solving skills and can create their own MathDice exercises.

"It is enormously gratifying to see Arlington's MathDice Tournament taken to new heights each year, with 100% of elementary schools now participating and more kids vying for the opportunity to share their passion for learning at such a high-energy event," said Bill Ritchie, CEO and co-founder of ThinkFun."May the kids' infectious team spirit, crazy costumes, songs and dance moves inspire others to embrace math with such vigor!"

ThinkFun, located in Alexandria, VA, is the world's leader in addictively fun games that challenge your mind and inspire creative thinking.