Working in a group, W.H. Morden Public School Grade 8 student Christopher kneels on the concrete floor and, with focus and just the right amount of pressure, he bends a ruler back to flick a cotton ball as far as possible. The smile on his face shows he’s happy with the measurement.

Welcome to the Math Olympics at Abbey Park High School in Oakville. The event is not a test of physical strength and endurance but a test of numbers and calculations, plus teamwork and communication. The last two skills are really what make the Math Olympics even more fun.

Christopher was one of the approximately 350 Grade 8 and Grade 9 students who participated in the Math Olympics at Abbey Park High School in Oakville on May 4. The elementary schools involved were Abbey Park feeder schools: Abbey Lane, Heritage Glen, Pilgrim Wood and W.H. Morden. Abbey Park’s Link Crew and Grade 10 math students assisted with the event.

There were numerous mind-twisting and brain-cramping games that challenged students, even if some had less intimidating names. They included the Bunny Hop, in which paper bunnies and paper chicks have to change places by hopping over each other or sliding one step sideways. Another included Kitty Hawk, with the goal to design a paper airplane to fly as far as possible. The activities were designed to require collaboration among team members. Other activities were more hands-on and physics oriented.


A big benefit to the Math Olympics was being able to pull together so many Grade 8 students into one area, event organizers say. The participating Grade 8 students had the opportunity to become acquainted with their future high school, connect with current high school students plus other Grade 8 students, and hopefully feel more comfortable when they enter the school as the in-coming Grade 9 class.

Teachers selected the common curriculum area of the mathematical process expectations as a focus for students' learning.  Problem solving, representing, reasoning and proving were the specific math process expectations for the Math Olympics activities.  These expectations are the same for Grade 7-10 classes.

“Math, or numeracy, is like literacy.  Day-to-day living requires numeracy skills,” says Ruth Teszeri, Instructional Program Leader for the Halton District School Board. “Math, like reading, can open doors of opportunity that otherwise would remain closed.  Engaging students in math is vital. We believed we opened some of those doors for students at the Math Olympics and hope to continue to inspire others through future events like this.”