Math Wizards:
Impressive Projects at Muñoz Elementary
by Debbie Winslow
March 23, 2010
With the Christmas holiday behind us, and with a thousand other items on the JBM calendar, the Math Projects were getting little if no attention. At least, that’s what some people thought.
“I believe it because I saw it,” Curriculum Assistant Juan Guajardo said. “But I was astonished at the level of participation.”
Almost all students submitted projects to their math teachers, with each one receiving at least a participation ribbon.
“All of these children are winners,” Counselor Macaria Salinas said. “Just by the hands-on nature of the projects, they are learning things that will stay in their minds forever.”
Students in Pre-K3 through Kinder created mobiles that depicted different shapes. Pre-K students concentrated on triangles, circles, and squares, with kindergarteners choosing from additional shapes.
“Besides identifying the shapes, they had to demonstrate real life examples of those shapes,” said one of the judges. “Each project must abide by the rules of the contest in order to qualify for ranking.”
For first through third grade, the rules called for creation of an original math game. Again, following the set criteria was critical.
“We had some beautiful projects that didn’t place,” another judge said. “It’s important that students learn to follow directions.”
The projects for fourth and fifth graders called for a tri-fold presentation of a mathematical concept. Students had opportunities to show what they had learned in class, by placing it on these posters.
“The quality of these projects keeps getting better and better every time,” Guajardo said. “And students are learning course content while practicing real life skills like working on a deadline and submitting presentations.”
One impressed visitor summed up the excitement generated by these projects: “I can hardly wait for the science one,” she said.
Below are the names of students who submitted the winning entries. Congratulations to all who participated; keep up the great work!
PRE-K 3
First Joey Escobar
Second Shay García
Third Heidy Cervantes
Fourth Destiny López
Fifth Marco Ramírez
Sixth A. J. Reyes
Seventh Aiden Rodríguez
Eighth Alynna Escamilla
Ninth Brandon Lee Félx
PRE-K 4
First Devinicus Altamirano
Second Jason García
Third Juan Castañeda
Fourth Noel Hinojosa
Fifth Maryzol López
Sixth Dakota Serna
Seventh Delayne Palomín
Eighth Carlos Vallejo
Ninth Christian Zúñiga
KINDER
First Jayden Silguero
Second Elihu Hernández
Third Melissa Castañeda
Fourth J. D. Rivera
Fifth Brisa Garza
Sixth Yaritza Ramírez
Seventh Naomi Marquez
Eighth Reubinah Güitrón
Ninth Pauline Almazán
FIRST
First Robert Martínez
Second Shawn Alvarado
Third Nathan Pedraza
Fourth Elijah Treviño
Fifth Yesenia García
Sixth Juan Díaz
Seventh Nickolas Mata
Eighth Aalya López
Ninth Keana Hernández
SECOND
First Robby-Anne Martínez
Second Emily Rivera
Third Zoe Pedraza
Fourth Adrián Bernal
Fifth Elijah García
Sixth Ricardo Moreno
Seventh Ramsey Treviño
Eighth Kimberly Rangel
Ninth Leilah Aguilera
THIRD
First Jaime Puga
Second Andrea Ortiz
Third Robert Romero
Fourth Marco Cázares
Fifth Joel Ramírez
Sixth Marco García
Seventh Cristóbal De León
Eighth Adamari García
Ninth Karla García
FOURTH
First Isaiah Treviño
Second Eduardo García
Third Martín Pérez
Fourth Emanuel Hernández
Fifth Jayde López
Sixth Brenda Cantú
Seventh Refugio Montelongo
Eighth Yoselín Rea
Ninth Kiara Luna
FIFTH
First Noah Treviño
Second Dominique Montelongo
Third Marina de la Fuente
Fourth Klarissa González
Fifth Matthew Mata
Sixth Emily Félix
Seventh José Hernández
Eighth Tamiza Hernández
Ninth Anjustina Reyes
