David Douglas School District hosted its first-ever district-wide “Family University: Math Carnival” on October 24 at David Douglas High School.
The family-friendly evening invited students, parents, and community members to explore the joy of math through hands-on, carnival-style games and activities. These activities highlighted how mathematical thinking can be collaborative, creative, and most importantly, fun.
Open to all ages and free of charge, the Math Carnival drew families from across the district’s diverse community. The welcoming atmosphere, complete with free food such as hamburgers and hot dogs, made the event festive and approachable for everyone.
From tossing games and estimation challenges to strategy-based activities, the event encouraged participants to discover that “Math is Everywhere” in daily life, at home, in the car, at the store, and especially during play. Laughter and teamwork filled the cafeteria as families learned, played, and celebrated the beauty of math together.
Throughout the evening, families and students shared their excitement and appreciation for the event. One Gilbert Park Elementary School family expressed, “This is so much fun. I’m glad the district is doing this.” Students also showed great enthusiasm, with one Lincoln Park Elementary School student, after winning several math games, happily shouting, “I won! I won!” as he jumped with excitement.
Another family from Cherry Park Elementary School reflected on the significance of the celebration, saying, “This is the first time the district has done this, and it is very exciting. My students don’t want to leave just yet.”
Student volunteers also found joy in the experience. One David Douglas High School student shared, “Playing math games with younger students is new to me, but it is exciting to see their engagement with math.”
The planning and coordination of the Math Carnival were the result of months of collaboration among district educators, family engagement specialists, and community partners. The goal was to create an event that not only celebrated math as a subject but also strengthened connections between families and schools.
The Family Engagement team and the Math Specialist envisioned an evening that combined academic enrichment with family engagement. The event was designed to help parents and guardians see how learning can extend beyond the classroom and into shared experiences at home.
Rachelle Zimmerman, the K–12 Math TOSA, commented,
Our goal was to provide families with positive math experiences by hosting a collaborative, creative, and critical thinking playground, and I think we absolutely hit the mark. The room was alive with smiles and laughter as students, siblings, and loved ones huddled over activities. We saw beautiful examples of collaboration as families strategized together on puzzles, genuine displays of creativity as they explored geometry and art, and serious critical thinking as they navigated carnival style games.
This event successfully shifted the narrative of math from a solitary, assessment-driven subject to a shared, creative experience. The success of this 2-hour event proves that the appetite for joyful, accessible mathematics is strong in our district, and I am looking forward to making events like Math Carnival an annual tradition.