Towamensing Elementary School recently transformed its gymnasium into a hub of mathematical excitement during its inaugural “math night” event.

The evening, designed to blend learning and fun, brought together students, families, and the community for an unforgettable experience, according to school officials.

“The teachers wanted to do something fun for the students and their families,” Kelly Beblavy, a Towamensing Elementary fifth grade teacher, said. “The holidays are a busy time, and we thought it would be a great opportunity for them to come out and spend some time together. The bonus was they got to play games while practicing math at the same time. It was a way to engage students in the math curriculum and involve families in the learning process.”

The event featured a plethora of hands-on activities and games spread across the gym. Divided into sections for different grade levels, students explored activities like number fishing, budgeting with decimals to build snowmen, and constructing snow forts using marshmallows and toothpicks. Students participated in various stations, earning punches on their cards for a chance to win prizes, including snow tubing passes donated by Blue Mountain Ski Area. Stations were run by staff as well as high school volunteers.

“We actually saw a lot of students going to all of the activities even if it wasn’t in their grade level which was great,” Beblavy said. “We liked seeing them trying new things and we heard lots of comments from families that their children were having so much fun they wanted to see what else there was to do.”

The math activities and games were meticulously planned to align with the school’s elementary math curriculum.

“Math curriculum is divided into four domains - numbers and operations, geometry, measurement and algebraic concepts,” Beblavy said. “We planned our stations around our elementary math curriculum and created activities for each domain. We had students measuring snowmen, creating snowflakes out of shapes, practicing addition and subtraction of decimals, and making patterns to name a few. Several of these activities are used in the classroom as part of our curriculum.”

Math night was a product of collaborative efforts by Towamensing math teachers. “We met as a team and organized it together,” she said.

Beblavy said the staff wasn’t sure what to expect going into the evening.

“This was the first time we held an event like this,” she added. “It exceeded our expectations in the best way possible. The amount of families that came out and the positive feedback we received from them was amazing.”

More than 100 Towamensing students, along with their families, actively participated in the event.

“We hope to make this an annual event for Towamensing families,” Beblavy said. “The feedback we received was very positive. The high school volunteers did an amazing job and enjoyed working with the students. We would like to reach out to other community businesses for future involvement.”