The Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) launched their CHOOSEMATHS Games Day at St Mary’s Primary School, Scone on Wednesday which saw students from Scone, Muswellbrook, Denman, Merriwa and Singleton go face-to-face in a range of activities such as number problems, logic and reasoning games, shape puzzles and physical challenges.

Team Four from St Mary’s Primary School in Scone which consisted of Iris Flaherty, Phoebe Carter, Blake Morgan and Thomas Havyatt, were crowned the queens and kings of maths with St Joseph’s Primary School, Denman placing second and St Catherine’s Catholic College, Singleton third.

 AMSI Schools Outreach Officer Cassandra Lowry said they decided to host the first competition in the Hunter Valley because it is “really leading the way in terms of being involved in programs to lift the engagement levels in mathematics.”

“We also host the CHOOSEMATHS awards and three teachers over the last three years have taken out one of the prizes from different Hunter Valley schools,” she said.

“So this was just another way to engage schools in mathematics and give them that positive experience in mathematics.

“Obviously we want to increase mathematics participation levels across Australia, but kids aren’t going to pick a subject they don’t like.

“So these kind of events are trying to get them to engage in mathematics in a fun but challenging way, working in a team and together.”

Maths engagement and confidence in primary school plays a key role in ongoing participation into Year 12 and university.

The event is based on the successful format used in Victoria for the MAV state-wide Games Day.

It is hoped the support of the Choose Maths outreach team will enable regional schools to roll out future events based on this model.