Of course, schools can do this by themselves, but I have the materials (that you won’t have to buy).

Knowing basic math facts frees up working memory, allowing the brain to focus on complex problem-solving rather than simple computation. 

The Goal of the Flash Facts Challenge? Keep it simple, make it fun, quick & easy to run, and inexpensive. Show up. No pencil or paper. Keep students rotating. (Or … maybe you have another plan you like.) I even picture students sitting at cafeteria tables and having the adults move from one to another – eliminating the need for me to bring my small, round tables.

See the dice spinner set up below.

Cost? If your school is already scheduled (or plan to schedule) a regular 2025-26 Pirate’s Challenge event – just pay my travel fee of $1 per mile from Millcreek Elementary (in Columbia) to your school. If not, please add $22 per event.

• Grades 1 to 5
• Addition, Multiplication, Factors, LCM, GCF (Any other ideas?)
• 30 Minutes (or less/more – whatever works for you)
• For smaller schools, multiple grade levels may run one event at the same time depending on space and staff.
• You can even run an event for a single class. (Wherever there’s interest.)

HOW AN EVENT IS RUN

I supply the materials. You supply adults to run the dice spinners.

I have 10, 2-foot diameter tables, 10 dice spinners and many kinds of dice. (6-sided with dots, 6-sided with numerals, 8-sided, 10-sided, 12-sided, 20-sided, and 30 sided).

Dice are used to guarantee random numbers. Ones and Zeroes are re-spun.

• The students in each grade are divided into groups to go to tables.
• Students come to the table one-at-a-time (not the like the usual Challenge Station).
• Each student has 3 (or more as you wish) seconds to answer after the dice stop spinning.
• We’ll use plastic gold coins to keep score. (All coins earned go in one treasure chest.)