Establish a goal before you begin planning event details. Math night could focus on informing parents of grade-level requirements or showing families how to support students’ learning at home. Setting a purpose for the event will simplify decision making during the planning stage.
Plan for participants to rotate through several math stations. Select activities based on event goals as well as students’ interests. For example, if the goal is to demonstrate problem-solving strategies, one activity could challenge participants to race against opponents to solve everyday math problems using mental math. If the objective is to show at-home learning opportunities, a station could use computers to present websites with math learning games. Since middle school students are motivated by social approval and autonomy, the schedule should include choices students can make and ways they can feel successful. At a station focused on fractions, students could choose between playing fraction dominoes and dividing chocolate bars into fractional parts.
Involve students in planning math night. Use surveys to discover students’ interests so that games and other details all meet their approval. Allow students to create decorations and set up materials. Helping prepare for math night will give middle school students a feeling of ownership regarding the event.
Students’ excitement will translate into enticing promotion for the special occasion. Use school websites, newsletters, social media, posters and video announcements to keep math night on middle school students’ minds. Challenge students to predict how many people will attend math night or determine the probability of any particular person being the first to arrive. Offer prizes for the closest answers. Ensure that math night goes on parents’ calendars by sending reminders through email and automated call systems.
Prizes and food can also entice middle school participants. Contact local businesses to seek donations for incentives, snacks and take-home materials. Offer free rewards, like homework passes, to students who attend.
Although most of the night should be devoted to letting students experience entertaining math activities, begin with a brief opening to welcome guests and introduce the schedule. Include a short transition time between activity stations. Play popular music during transitions to create a playful environment while keeping the night on schedule. Have teachers or volunteers at each math station to help participants understand activities and enjoy the night. Assign a few student photographers, since middle school students will enjoy seeing themselves in event photos later. Provide activities that students can take home to continue their mathematics experience. Include donated items such as flash cards, rulers and dice along with printed games.
Collect photos and volunteer anecdotes to evaluate math night and plan for future events. Reflect on your original goals when debriefing students and other participants. Use photos to create a slideshow or display about math night. This visual will help build anticipation about future events. Involve middle school students in thanking supporters, since cards written and designed by students are especially well received. Let students select photos to include with their notes so that volunteers and donors can see how their time and gifts made math night a success.