One of the things I love about living in New York City is that I am constantly discovering new things about it. I feel as if I could live here another 30 years and still not see all it has to offer.
The summer is always a great time for me to explore new parts of the city and visit places that I’ve been too busy during the school year to check out.
On the top of my list for this summer is the recently opened Museum of Mathematics.
Located at 11 East 26th Street in Manhattan, the museum boasts that it is “the coolest thing that ever happened to math.” That seems like a rather bold claim, but it does appear to have some cool exhibits and activities that allow children (and adults) to have a variety of hands-on experiences with math.
There are activities where you can explore the Pythagorean theorem, fractals, and geometric figures.
Not having visited yet, I can’t comment on the learning that occurs from these activities. However, I do think it sounds like a great way to expose students to math in a creative and fun way. Perhaps something there will spark a child’s interest or alleviate his or her anxiety about math.
For those of you looking to prevent summer slide, it seems like a great place to take your children over the summer or to recommend to your students.
I will be sure to report back after I visit. I would love to hear from those of you who have visited it!