Photo By Lance Cpl. Kasey Peacock | Elementary school students use sorobans to compete in the 13th annual soroban contest...... read more read more
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OKINAWA, Japan - With pencils in hand and sorobans at their fingertips, the children dazzled the audience by solving problems some would only be able to solve with a calculator.
Competition was fierce as 160 students from across Okinawa competed in the 13th annual soroban contest at the Surfside Club on Camp Kinser April 30.
A soroban, or counting tray, is a mathematical tool that helps solve equations. It consists of an odd number of columns or rods with beads worth different numerical values.
“The students who participated in the contest have been learning and practicing their skills on the soroban at school,” said Martha H. Brown, the Department of Defense Education Activity superintendent for the Pacific Okinawa district. “The contest provided an opportunity for the children to demonstrate what they learned and, for many, a goal to aim for in the future.”
The League for Soroban Education of Japan, Inc. hosted the contest in partnership with the DODEA Pacific Okinawa district.
“Our goal is to spread soroban education throughout the world,” said Kenyu Arime, the president of the league. “We hold more than 120 classes Okinawawide, and encourage students to participate in this form of Japanese culture to increase their math skills.”
During the contest, students were separated by grade into two divisions, forth grade and above and third grade and below. The students were tested on three different mathematical categories: written, oral and flash.
“The contest offered a chance for students to increase their math and fine motor skills, while developing cognitive skills to help them with schooling in the future,” said Mina Ohama, a culture teacher with Zukeran Elementary School. “Anyone can use a calculator, but a soroban requires much more brain power because of the amount of thinking it requires when solving an equation.”
During the written portion, students were allotted five minutes to solve 30 mathematical equations.
The oral test consisted of an instructor reading a sequence of numbers that the students added or subtracted using their sorobans.
The flash portion could be done using only memory or the soroban. It consisted of a sequence of numbers to be added or subtracted, flashing across a projector screen.
I practiced for two and a half years, four times a week, said Anthony Laney, a fourth-grade participant in the competition. It helps you learn and understand a different culture.
“It was fun,” Laney added.
Throughout all three segments of the competition, students were encouraged to do their best despite how difficult some of the equations were.
“I was impressed with the level of preparation our students showed,” said Brown. “They performed very well, demonstrated excellent sportsmanship, and clearly had fun and enjoyed showing what they had worked hard to learn.”
Four Japanese elementary students came to the competition to demonstrate their skills and boost morale for the students competing.
All participants received a medal of recognition, and trophies were presented for first and second-place winners in the oral and flash categories. Students who completed all 30 equations correctly during the written portion were presented with a certificate.
Fourth-grader Anthony Laney and third-grader Kaleb Crouch, both from Amelia Earhart Intermediate School, won first-place in both categories for their divisions.
A competitor solves an equation using a soroban during the 13th annual soroban contest at the Surfside Club on Camp Kinser April 30. Elementary school students from across Okinawa competed in the contest to build camaraderie through competition and increase their mathematical skills. Lance Cpl. Kasey Peacock
| Date Taken: | 04.30.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 05.11.2012 00:20 |
| Story ID: | 88270 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 182 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Students multiply math skills with Japanese culture, by LCpl Kasey Peacock, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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