MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT CHALLENGE
Think. Explore. Create.
The vision of the Maths Achievement Challenge and CRACAMAC is to develop extension and enrichment in mathematics.
Inquiry learning through investigations enhance independent work habits, problem-solving, logical and lateral thinking skills. The development of a positive attitude to mathematics and perseverance are important personal qualities developed through the programme.
In additiion to deep personal satisfaction and pride in their achievements, students are rewarded with very attractive badges and certificates.
In-depth investigations are related to students' lives and everyday situations, as well as the objectives of the mathematics curriculum.
All types of schools throughout New Zealand participate in the M.A.C. programame. During a typical year over 400 schools and in excess of 2500 students are participating in the programme.
Interested students undertake in-depth mathematical investigations independently, or co-operatively, over an extended period of time developed within classroom programmes or in students own time.
Students may start at any time as M.A.C is not a competition.
Investigations for the MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT CHALLENGE are related to Levels 3-4 of Mathematics in the New Zealand Curriculum and CRACAMAC is at Level 2 of the Curriculum.
The Mathematics Achievement Challenge and CRACAMAC was completely evaluated and rewritten in 2007 so that the key concepts of the Numeracy Programme are embedded in the investigations.
The Mathematics Achievement Challenge / CRACAMAC is a non-profit, Charitable Trust set up for the benefit of New Zealand students.
STRUCTURE
STANDARD CHALLENGE
SECTION A
Students select and complete 3 Investigations, from a list of 5 from the work card.
plus
SECTION B
Students select and complete 3 Investigations, from a list of 6 from the work card.
INVESTIGATION WORK CARD
Students work from the cards and complete a total of 6 Investigations from the 11 listed. Each investigation needs to be "signed off" by the teacher.
Stunning Badges and Certificates are awarded on completion of the Challenges.
SUPER AWARD CHALLENGE
To receive a Super Award a student must complete 3 Investigation Work Cards within a 12 month period.
All 3 fully completed cards must be sent to the secretary who will send a Free Badge/Certificate.
SUPER GOLD CHALLENGE
To receive a Super Award a student must complete 7 Investigation Work Cards within an 18 month period. All 7 fully completed cards must be sent to the secretary who will send a Free Badge/Certificate.
**PLEASE NOTE**
SUPER AWARDS AND SUPER GOLD WILL NOT BE ALLOCATED TO PHOTOCOPIED CARDS!
THE CHALLENGES
BADGE DESCRIPTIONS
The TOPICS listed, will assist students and teachers to understand the nature of the investigations.
DYNAMIC NUMBER (Numeracy)
Topics: currency, fuel consumption, athletics and timing, scale drawings, analyzing our number system, calculators, puzzles, fractions in everyday life, airline travel, pay rates, conversion of decimals / fractions / percentages, discounts, number lines.
NUMBER WHIZ (Numeracy)
Topics: household electricity a/c, area measurement, metric measurement, temperature statistics, digit order, junk mail, large numbers, glossary, earning and budgets, 4 operations, fraction board, investments.
MATHS MEDLEY
Topics: shapes, sporting events, outdoor collage, G.S.T and junk mail, temperature, puzzles, glossary, earning money, birthday parties, landscape design, games tournaments.
TECHNOLOGY
Topics: inventions, digital camera, technology in the home, sport, universal signs, cars and travel, computer graphics, 3-D art, video production, pop design, home appliances.
TRAVEL
Topics: luggage, currencies, planning a trip, transport surveys, number plates, holidays, aircraft, cycle trails, N.Z mapping, time zones, measurement of distances, orienteering.
TIME
Topics: clocks, time zones, codes, timelines, calendars, cultures, school week, digital and analogue time, phases of the moon, daylight saving, measuring devices.
THE OUTDOORS
Topics: games, events, cross country, sports people, camping and tents, 3-D mazes, recreation surveys, rafting, tee-shirt design.
SPORT
Topics: surveys, games, costs, sports records, fitness, diets, performance, injuries, geometry.
3-D SHAPE
Topics: toys, structures, scale models, environment, kites, computer generated shapes, mobiles, graphics, packaging, Mauritus Escher diagrams.
2-D DESIGN
Topics: flags, perspective drawings and optical illusions, cultural designs, tangrams, tessellations, murals, stained glass windows, polygons.
GAMES & PUZZLES
Topics: chance, codes, maths whoppers, computer games, competitions, grids and co-ordinates, spinners, isometric puzzles, maths trails, 2-D and 3-D games, class games.
ME, MYSELF & I
Topics: poems, songs and stories, measurement, celebrations, budgeting, posters, growth rates, family trees, body parts, timelines, puppets, time analysis.
CULTURAL MATHS
Topics: ancient civilizations, calculators, hangis, fashion, number systems, geometrical designs, games, scale models, musical rhythms, weights and measures.
COST OF LIVING
Topics: value for money, family expenses, redecorating, a bedroom, pocket money, shopping, clothing, investments, recreation costs, money box savings, small business.
COOKING TECH
Topics: fast food, school canteen, barbeque aprons, favourite food, food packaging, budgeting, serviette folding, theme parties, ice-cream 3 course meal, modern kitchens.
CRACAMAC Topics
NUMBER STAR
Topics: geometrical shapes, addition, patterns & relationships, odd / even numbers, number systems, definitions, surveys, greater than / less than, place value.
NUMBER NUT
Topics: fractions, wordfind, shapes, temperature, design, surveys, data, calculating, place value, reraltionships & patterns.
NUMBER CRUNCHER
Topics: time, frequency, glossary, games, shapes, songs, costing, basic facts, distances, volume & mass, surveys.
MATHS SMART
Topics: surveys & data, measurement of distance, 3D shapes, money boxes, flag design, patterns, geometry, wordfinds, temperature, area, chance & probability.
EXAMPLES
The TOPICS / EXAMPLES listed below from 4 Investigation Work Cards will assist students and teachers in understanding the nature of the Investigations.
M.A.C.
ME, MYSELF & I
Topics: poems, songs & stories, measurement, celebrations, budgeting, posters, growth rates, family trees, body parts, timelines, puppets, time analysis
Example: Create a puppet of yourself which is 1/4 of your size and design and make clothing to fit.
NUMBER WHIZ (Numeracy)
Topics: household electricity cost, area measurement, metric measurement, temperature statistics, digit order, junk mail, large numbers, glossary, earning & budgets, 4 operations, fraction board, investments.
Example: Select a suitable recipe for a rich, fruity Christmas cake and record the ingredients in metric form. Convert the quantities in the recipe to make 8 identical cakes. What is the total weight of one cake & the 8 cakes?
TECHNOLOGY
Topics: inventions, digital camera, technology in the home, sport, universal signs, cars & travel, computer graphics, 3-D art, video production, pop design, home appliances.
Example: Use a digital camera to take photographs of patterns in the natural environment. Download your photographs to a computer. Make a display using photographs and captions relating to the mathematical patterns.
THE OUTDOORS
Topics: tenting, camps, tangrams, surveys, word puzzles, tee-shirt designs, games, mazes, sports' events, rafting.
Example: Produce a design for a raft which will be able to transport yourself and a friend. List the costs of all the components required. Construct the raft and test it in a suitable pool (school pool). Assess and evaluate your design and determine its effectiveness.
CRACAMAC
NUMBER STAR
Topics: geometrical shapes, addition, patterns & relationships, odd / even numbers, number systems, definitions, surveys, greater than / less than, place value.
Example: Describe in writing and diagrams how our Number System is organised into place value.
NUMBER NUT
Topics: fractions, wordfind, shapes, temperatures, design, surveys, data, calculating, place value, relationships & patterns.
Example: Create a continuing pattern using toothpicks. Each new toothpick must connect to the previous pattern. Make & record as many patterns as you can. Describe a rule for the construction of each pattern.
NUMBER CRUNCHER
Topics: time, frequency, glossary, games, shapes, songs, costing, basic facts, distance, volume & mass, surveys.
Example: Investigate a game which is or was played by people from another culture. Explain and record how it is was played and the Mathematics involved.
MATH SMART
Topics: survey & data, measurement of distance, 3D shape, money boxes, flag design, patterns, geometry, wordfind, temperature, area, chance & probability.
Example: Design and make a money box that would encourage savings.
TEACHER KEY TASKS
1
Motivate and discuss with the students the MATHS ACHIEVEMENT CHALLENGE and/or CRACAMAC challenges, using this webpage or our brochure.
2
Print out and get signed the Parent Permission Letter.
3
Co-ordinate the Order and send to: M.A.C Secretary.
4
Distribute Investigation cards on delivery.
5
Keep Badges/Certificates in a secure place until ready for presentation.
6
Monitor Assessment:
Assessment is simple and is not time consuming. When an investigation is finished the teacher needs to sign that off and monitor the Student Evaluation Checklist.
7
Arrange presentation of Badges/Certificates.
GET IN TOUCH
Contact Mathematics Achievement Challenge
ADDRESS:
℅ Emma Wilson
130 North Belt
Lincoln
Canterbury
EMAIL:
