Webinars SET A - Grade 3-4 - Sunday@3:15-4:15pm EST-Recording Webinar 1

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This webinar introduces the Math Kangaroo Level 3-4 contest and offers an overview of the contest format, problem types, and problem-solving strategies. The session is led by Dr. Sarah Sagee, an experienced math coach, along with Abhinav ("Abhi"), a 10th-grade student and math team captain who has participated in Math Kangaroo since third grade. <br /><br />Math Kangaroo is an international math competition featuring 24 multiple-choice word problems split into three sections of increasing difficulty (3, 4, and 5 points). The problems blend math skills with critical reading and come in diverse categories such as number problems, geometry, spatial reasoning, clocks and calendars, and logic puzzles. They emphasize problem-solving rather than routine exercises, requiring careful reading, planning, execution, and review.<br /><br />The webinar demonstrates example problems like counting sticks in shapes, trading apples and bananas, calculating maximum marbles through trades, determining weights using balance scales, area calculations using squares, visualizing cube faces, interpreting clock times, and calendar reasoning. Free-form discussion and polls allow participants to submit answers anonymously.<br /><br />Participants are encouraged to use a four-step process (understand, plan, solve carefully, reflect) and to skip hard questions to maximize scores. Tips include practicing past contests, printing handouts, improving time and calendar skills, and embracing guessing since there is no penalty for wrong answers. The session aims to prepare students for the challenge and excitement of Math Kangaroo contests, building confidence and problem-solving skills over time.

Keywords

Math Kangaroo

Level 3-4 contest

math competition

problem-solving strategies

multiple-choice word problems

number problems

geometry

spatial reasoning

clocks and calendars

logic puzzles