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RANKIN INLET - Who would have figured it could all add up to so much fun?

That was the feeling among Grade 4 students who attended a special math camp at Leo Ussak elementary school in Rankin Inlet.

Leo Ussak elementary students Jaydene Pilakapsi, Amiel Hernandez, Kandace Kadlak, Bobby Akerolik, Jon Maktar, Griffin Ford, Joy Angnetsiak, Caroline Gibbons and Shane Adams, back row from left, Qatauyak Everard, Ada Angidlik, Samantha Noolook, Maria Noolook and Germine Aliyak, middle row from left, and Aaliyah Yacapin, Daniel Aupilardjuk and Ethan Subgut, front row from left, display the certificates they received for taking part in a recent math camp at their school. -

School staff members and students came in for a few hours on a recent Saturday so the kids could participate in a number of math activities aimed at encouraging them to learn the fun aspects of the subject.

Teacher Barbara Legacy-Porter said the activities included math games, problem solving, and creating and solving patterns, among others.

She said the kids absolutely love this type of approach to learning.

"One student actually said to me as he left the camp he didn't know math could be so much fun," said Legacy-Porter.

"The camp gave the kids a totally different approach to learning.

"They used calculators to add and multiply and then, when they turned the calculator around, the answer spelled words.

"The day featured all kinds of fun activities like that the kids really enjoyed."

Legacy-Porter said the students don't think of projects like the math camp as actually being in school when they're held on a Saturday.

She said they come to the school looking for something to do and wanting to have a good time.

"It's nice to see the students having so much fun while they learn instead of always focusing on classroom subjects such as language, arts and math.

"Those subjects are very important, but events like the math camp are different approaches to learning that both the teachers and students enjoy doing together.

"It's a lot of work preparing for something like this, but once the day has come and gone, I'm always so glad we did it.

"No matter what subject you're talking about, when teachers are enthusiastic about their students learning, the kids are going to enjoy learning."