Equestrian Trails Elementary School finished first in the Math Academic Basic Equations competition held recently at John I. Leonard High School. Approximately 200 fourth-grade and fifth-grade students from 35 Palm Beach County elementary schools took part in the competition.
Students’ mathematical creativity is challenged when playing the game. Basic Equations uses whole numbers, exponents, square roots, fractions and negative numbers to make mathematical expression equivalent to a set goal. There may be several solutions for the same goal, but students must prove the equation’s value.
Coach Michelle Regnerus leads the team through numerous practice sessions, teaching perplexing math strategies, performance under pressure and good sportsmanship. She believes that the students learn most by playing against their teammates when they share and discuss well-thought-out ways to manipulate the 24 game cubes to create numerical expressions that equal a complex goal. Students apply those strategies when playing against other schools.
Along with the first place team award, individual players also earned awards. Christian Chantayan and Christian Engman took honorable mention; Jonah Karpf took sixth place; Alex Rothman took fifth place; Abigail Lofstead took fourth place; and Griffin Dale took first place overall. Other team members include Brody Gullo, Stephen Polin, Hunter Tota, Jordan Denitto, SnehithEnjem and Zachary Kohl.
ABOVE: (Front row) Jonah Karpf, Christian Engman, Alex Rothman, Abigail Lofstead, Griffin Dale and SnehithEnjem; (back row) Stephen Polin, Jordan Denitto, Hunter Tota, Zachary Kohl, Brody Gullo and coach Michelle Regnerus. Not shown: Christian Chantayan.
