UCS students love a good challenge

Elementary students with a knack for mathematics found their recent tournament to be quite a challenge.

A 24 challenge, in fact.

Students from across the district came together recently at Graebner Elementary to take part in a high level math challenge that requires students to create new ways to come up with a sum of 24.

"I really like this game because I like to push myself," said Faith McGuire, a fifth-grader from Collins Elementary "This game makes me work harder."

More than 100 students participated in the district's third 24 Math Game Tournament at Graebner Elementary.

The 24 Game Math challenge is a national program designed to improve student performance in math and related subjects through a fun tournament format. The competition sharpens students' skills in computation, problem solving, number sense, critical thinking, and pattern sensing.

Students are given a set of cards with four numbers and asked to come up with a combination that equals 24.

For instance, some of the UCS students put together:

8-6=2+4 = 6 X 4 = 24

7/7 = 1 + 5 = 6 X 4 = 24

It's not easy.

"I do have a strategy," said Joshua Essenmacher, of Harvey Elementary. "I first try to add them up. That is the quickest, if you can do it."

"The game really forces you to think," said Claudio Della Torre, of DeKeyser Elementary.

Representatives from 12 district schools participated in the UCS tournament, which allowed students to form teams of three and four within their grade level. 

All students competed in the first two rounds of the competition and earned the right for entry into a championship round. The winners received a gold medal and their own 24 Math Game. 

Winners of the championship round were:

6th Grade – Matt Vatne from Schuchard, who has won three years in a row.

5th Grade – Evan Barash from Schuchard

4th Grade – Maria Beninati from Harvey