Sussex Academy math club combines learning with fun

An after-school math program at Sussex Academy’s elementary campus combines fun with learning in a unique way.

First-grade teacher Christine Falcone leads the Crazy 8s math club, where students participate in hands-on, collaborative activities with their friends.

“There’s no grading or homework,” Falcone said. “It’s all fun with friends!”

The eight-week program keeps students moving and active in their learning. At the Feb. 25 session, students first reviewed concepts from the week before, reciting which shapes have four and five sides, what shapes have many angles, and the difference between 2D and 3D objects.

Students then played zig-zag volleyball, a beach ball toss game that allowed them to practice math facts. First, students counted the number of breaths it took Falcone to blow up the ball halfway. Then, they gave their best guesses as to how many breaths would be needed to fully inflate the ball.

“Take a risk here,” Falcone said. “You’re not going to go wrong with taking a chance in here.”

Once the number of breaths was determined – 26 – students passed a ball decorated with numbers to each other. After catching the ball, each recipient had to add the two numbers closest to their thumbs.

Other games included hot potato, where students passed the ball to each other until the music stopped, and then had to add the two numbers closest to their thumbs. If the sum was less than 10, they could stay in the game. If the sum was greater than 10, they were out. 

Falcone said the Crazy 8s club is designed to alleviate math anxiety among children, showing significant improvements in just eight weeks.

The club currently consists of 16 first-graders who were selected on a first-come, first-served basis, with each weekly, one-hour session accommodating between 12 and 16 participants. The program features 24 weeks of activities divided into three kits, referred to as Seasons 1, 2 and 3, tailored for grades K-2 and 3-5. The group is presently engaged in Season 1, with aspirations to expand into later seasons and possibly include other grade levels.

Falcone initiated the club when her son was in first grade; he is now a sophomore at Sussex Academy. She describes the experience as the highlight of her school week. The club aims to make math enjoyable and engaging, fostering a positive association with the subject.
As one member said, “I like this! It is games, and fun and math,” indicating that the integration of playful activities into learning is both effective and appealing to the students.

Sussex Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Georgetown. Its mission is to foster academic achievement and social responsibility in a small-school environment where students participate in a highly accelerated college preparatory program that prepares them for the technological and global mindedness needed for the 21st century. It also instills ethical conduct and service to others in their day-to-day lives.