Krista Nappier, Emma Kyler and Ella Kyker, from left, work out on a mat at Falkville Elementary School’s Math and Movement event Thursday night.
| Clif Knight

Clif Knight

Hartselle Enquirer

Falkville Elementary School’s k-5 students were introduced to a unique and fun-filled way to improve their math skills and get their exercise at the same time at a parent involvement meeting in the school gymnasium Thursday night.

A company named “Math Movement”  furnished colorful mats in the shape of squares, circles and rectangles for the game. They contained bold numbers, letters and words and were displayed on the gymnasium floor.

Students were  challenged to test their math and reading skills by working their way through as many of he mats as possible, jumping, skipping and hopping from one block to the next. Then,  running, crawling or sliding to the next mat to keep their hearts pumped up.

“It’s amazing how much knowledge students this age can absorb in an hour or two when they’re  playing a game and having fun,” said Mary Hendricks, a company representative   who drove over from Chattanooga to coordinate the game. “They’re exercising their bodies at the same time without even realizing it.”

An elementary physical education teacher, Hendricks said she was sold on “Math Movement” the first time she saw it demonstrated at a teachers conference.

A clock hop mat  tested students on their ability to twist and turn their bodies to tell time with their hands and feet. A square mat filled with numbers enabled participants to practice the multiplication of numbers.

Parent involvement coordinator Brooke Hudson said 110 students and parents pre-registered for the event and about 15 parents and teachers volunteered to assist students while they were playing the game.

“I see people coming in that didn’t pre-register,”  she added. “We could have as many as 150 to 200 people here.”

Parent Candie Horsley said her son, Kamryn, a second grader, has looked forward to  playing the game.

“I can see that he’s having fun,” she said. “I hope this is helping him with his studies as well.”

“We have had good success with our parent involvement program,” said Principal Shane Bryan.” When parents come to events like this we know they want their children to get a good education.”