Making math fun for kids at Math Fair

The MIND Research Institute, an Irvine-based nonprofit, aims to transform students’ perception of math from being scary and frustrating to exciting and essential.

Its effort was on display Saturday during a Math Fair at the OC Fair & Events Center in Costa Mesa.

Students and their families played centuries-old games to experience the origins of mathematics. Some children took it a step further and created their own math activities with the support of expert game designers.