Having a "Blast" in Math

( July 7, 2004 ) The Baptist Progress  - Five, four, three, two, one, blast-off!" was the chant of the afternoon on July 9 as the Summer Math Camp at Jacksonville College came to a successful close. Eighth-grade students at the camp funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation proudly demonstrated the rockets they had built step by step as they explored a variety of mathematical concepts during the four-day camp. Their friends in grades five through seven watched and cheered as the rockets blasted into the heavens -- well, at least, a few yards into the heavens!


The Summer Math Camp was a cooperative effort between Jacksonville College, the Jacksonville Independent School District, and Stephen F. Austin State University. Although several camps were held across East Texas, Jacksonville College was the only college or university offered the opportunity to host one of the events. With an enrollment of 55 Jacksonville fifth through eighth graders, it was one of the summer's largest camps.


Students enrolled in the Camp were involved in innovative activities which facilitated the students' understanding of mathematical concepts in a relaxed environment of games, puzzles, and projects. Fifth grade student Dummisani Mwape, son of Goffrey and Thetiwe Mwape, sparkled with enthusiasm as he transferred a scaled drawing of a playground from his centimeter paper to an open field. He moved quickly through the vertical and horizontal parts of the drawing but came to a halt when his lines were suddenly diagonals. With a little encouragement, he said," Oh, so I move up 2 and over 3 and make my line!" Now, Dummisani, whose dad is a student at the BMA Theological Seminary in Jacksonville and whose mom is a student at Jacksonville College, does not realize it yet, but he has just discovered the mathematical concept of the slope of a line! Although the concept of slope was not the purpose of the activity, a teacher knows to seize every teachable moment! Someday, Dummisani may be engineering bridges!


Jacksonville College is pleased to have been a part of this project in our community. It is our desire to continue to participate in this and other events which offer us the opportunity to demonstrate God's love by sharing some of what He has given to us with those around us.