A classroom activity focused on mental mathematics, often structured in a competitive format, challenges students to quickly and accurately solve arithmetic problems. Participants advance sequentially through a roster of their peers, answering questions correctly to progress. Failure to provide a correct answer results in the student remaining in their current position until they succeed, while another challenger attempts to advance. The ultimate goal is to “travel around the world” by successfully defeating all classmates and returning to the starting position.
This method of instruction can increase student engagement and promote rapid recall of mathematical facts. Its competitive nature motivates students to improve their speed and accuracy in mental calculations. Moreover, it fosters a positive learning environment by encouraging peer interaction and creating opportunities for students to learn from each other. Such activities have been used in educational settings for many years, evolving over time with different variations in rules and problem types, but consistently emphasizing the development of mental math skills.