STEAM Tuesdays: Let’s Explore Math

Over the past four weeks, we’ve introduced and discussed the first four letters of STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, and the Arts. It’s now time to reveal our final letter, which is M for Math! With the addition of this final element to STEAM, we complete our all-encompassing 21^st century curriculum.

Math is simply the logic of shape, quantity, and arrangement, and can be as simple as a basic algebra equation or as elaborate as the formulas developed in designing roller coasters. At Everbrook Academy, children apply different math processes to help them problem solve, measure, and make decisions or conclusions based off reason.

Understanding math is essential for lifelong success, whether personal or professional. At home, math is needed to manage personal finances or to try a new recipe for dinner. At work, more advanced skills may be required to excel on the job, such as careers in architecture, medicine, business, etc.

Morgan the Mathematician is the member of our STEAM Team who encourages children to discover uses for math in daily life, whether it’s in putting together a puzzle or counting the number of carrots at snack time! Exploring math skills also helps further develop our 4Cs of 21st century learning:

Critical Thinking | Communication | Collaboration | Creativity

AT-HOME ACTIVITY IDEA: Our “Stacking Blocks” activity is a fabulous way for children to strengthen simple math skills while also utilizing the other elements of STEAM. Children can hypothesize about the height of their structure, describe what it looks like, and count the number of blocks in their tower.

Materials:

• Blocks of various shapes and textures (even cardboard boxes will work!)
• Paper (optional)
• Writing utensil (optional)

Instructions:

1. Ask children to begin by predicting the outcome of their envisioned structure. Have them draw, write, or verbalize how tall they think they can build their tower before it falls, or what size blocks they think will work best.
2. Let children build a structure to their liking.
3. Once the structure is complete, have children draw, write down, or verbalize their observations – ask them to share how many blocks they used, the colors of the blocks, the shapes of their blocks, the shape of their structure, etc.
4. If the structure collapsed, discuss with your children why this may have happened. Encourage the use of problem-solving skills to build it differently with a goal of more stability.