1-2-3 OY! School Competitions
1-2-3 OY!  competitions have been successfully implemented in 6 schools in the Painesville, Ohio School district during the month of May 2004 and May 2005. This was organized by Math Co-ordinator Karen Lescoezec. We at Dream Green are very grateful for all her work and she has said that she would be happy to answer any questions from teachers regarding these competitions. Please fill in our contact form and we will pass on your requests to her.

Students really enjoy the games and this is of primary importance. Before starting the program it will be very useful to evaluate students abilities and then track their improvements over the course of a month or more. If you have any results please forward them to us.

Benefits
Students enjoyed practicing the game and got better with their basic facts.

Student confidence rose accordingly and their desire to learn improved.

A small token award was offered for the best sport in every class. There were classes that the students played so well together that it was impossible to choose one student. Students were complemented on their sportsmanship.

Very few students quit trying with most taking on the challenge and many practicing at any opportunity and at home.

Awards
The final competition was hosted by The Learning Corner, an education store in Painesville, OH. Certificates, ribbons and gift certificates were awarded to all contestants, and Pizza and drinks were supplied after the tournament. If you are planning competitions contact your local educational store and or solicit a small donation from a local business to support the contests with prizes and refreshments.

Game Format
We now suggest that you include both a modified form of Quad OY! and Slap Match OY! in your competitions. Quad OY! requires no time pressure but considerable ability. There are many students who approach problems with more deliberation than the speed players, so by scoring both games equally and adding the scores together a more reliable indication of ability is achieved.

Originally we based the competitions on the game of Slap Match OY! using only addition and subtraction, but the target number was turned over by the teacher. We played 4 rounds of 5 minutes with all tables starting and finishing together, except in the finals when we played an extra round with 2 target cards that were added together. At the end of each round the total number of cards each student won was recorded with the top 2 from each class going on to the semi finals. At the semi finals the top 3 went on to the finals, with the top 2 competing and the third player as an alternate.

Position tables into groups of 3 students and place a letter with each group. Hand out a different number to each student which is used to designate which students play together, since the students move to different tables with each round so that each student plays every other student.

Quad OY!
The following rules are modified from the original for competition use. This game has no time requirements and can be played solitaire for practice. We suggest only 3 players per deck of cards.

Play to win the most cards. Assign the OY! card a value. The dealer (who also can play) turns a Target Card face up from the Stock Pile and deals 6 cards to the first player who uses addition and/or subtraction of as many of the six cards as they can to equal the Target Number. The player then places the Target Card and Solution cards in their win pile. Any cards not used in the solution are passed on to the next player who receives an additional 6 cards and a new target number. If a player is unable to find a solution the next player receives those 6 cards and 6 new cards and a new target card (placed on top of the old target card). The next player to find a solution wins both the new target cards and the previous target cards. Play until there are no more Stock Cards.

Variations: Consider using multiple cards which can be added or even multiplied as the target numbers. If multiplying the target cards allow the players to also multiply, divide and use exponents in their solutions.

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