Video of the Week: Math Challenge (Series)
RSSFrom SLJ December 2004
Linda Fortino, formerly of Charles Quentin Elementary School, Palatine, IL -- School Library Journal, 12/20/2004
16 videocassettes. color. range: 10-15 min. (closed captioned). with tchr's. guide. Prod. by BBC Worldwide. Dist. by Library Video Co. (www.libraryvideo.com). 2004. $19.95 ea. Includes: 3-D Shapes (ISBN 1-57225-840-3); Complements: Making 100 & 1000 (ISBN 1-57225-841-1); Decimals (ISBN 1-57225-842-X); Decimals: Adding, Subtracting & Comparing (ISBN 1-57225-843-8) Double & Halves (ISBN 1-57225-844-6); Equations (ISBN 1-57225-845-4); Equivalent Fractions & Mixed Numbers (ISBN 1-57225-846-2); Fractions (ISBN 1-57225-847-0); Integers (ISBN 1-57225-848-9); Multiples & Factors (ISBN 1-57225-849-7); Number Patterns (ISBN 1-57225-875-6); Operations with Large Numbers (ISBN 1-57225-876-4); Percentages (ISBN 1-57225-877-2); Rounding Numbers (ISBN 1-57225-878-0); Shapes (ISBN 1-57225-879-9); Zeros: Multiplying & Dividing by 10, 100, 1000 (ISBN 1-57225-880-2).
Gr 4-6-After a brief description of the "Briticisms" used in these videos, the adventures of Matt Mattics, Top Secret Agent, and Dr. Strangeglove, evil scientist, begin in this superior series. Dr. Strangeglove's plots to devastate the world can only be foiled by Matt Mattics's weapon: his grasp of mathematical concepts. Each video reviews a concept and challenges Mattics and his three young friends to tackle some mental math problems. Students, armed with paper and pencil, play along and score points for correct answers. And, of course, good triumphs over evil! The format of these videos is creative, the lessons succinct, and the interesting characters will hold the attention of all ability levels. Excellent animation, stirring background music, and humorous characters combine with sound educational lessons, making this series a must buy for school libraries. While aimed primarily at fourth to sixth graders, gifted third graders or remedial seventh graders would also find this a great teaching tool.
