Parents read to their kids, sing together, and bake. Looking for something new and refreshing? Do some math. You might be thinking that you are just not a math person. But are you? Math is a part of your everyday life from the moment you wake up. As a parent, you influence how your child thinks about mathematics and it is extremely important to start with a positive attitude toward math. Join MoMath for the next Family Friday, “Reach Out and Touch Space!”presented by Two Sigma on Dec. 14 at 6:30pm.
Using Geometiles, LEGOs, and 3D prints, explore the fascinating world of tessellations in the plane, on the sphere, and even in the mysterious hyperbolic space. Go on a journey through the fascinating world of patterns in space with Dartmouth mathematician and geometer, Bjoern Muetzel, free of charge.
Research shows that merely expressing a fear of math (“I’m just not that good at it”) can negatively impact how your child will learn
The good news is that math is so ubiquitous that you are bound to find it in somehing you enjoy in everyday life. Whether shopping at your local farmer’s market, calculating time and distance when planning a family trip, or baking holiday desserts, there are always opportunities for playful mathematical exploration
Come up with something fascinating, fun and math-friendly and your family will be so caught up in the discovery process while completing the activity, that you won’t even realize that you are doing “work” learning math.
Math is used in every step of baking, whether it’s a gingerbread house, rugelach, or layered winter cake. You will need to measure quantities, use fractions to divide the number of servings, and determine the surface area of the cake to fit it in the right pan. Add some more challenge by calculating cooking times based on the weight, converting temperature from Celcius to Fahrenheit or discussing angles in layering and decorating.
If you need some more guidance there’s an event series at MoMath, the country’s only museum dedicated to mathematics, in Manhattan. Join MoMath and Geometiles for a fun night celebrating math at the nation’s only Museum of Math.
Family Fridays at MoMath
11 E 26th St
momath.org/family-fridays
