Math Curriculum for Middle Schoolers

It’s no secret that getting kids excited about math can be tough.

Kids, especially older kids, come to programs wanting to relax and enjoy themselves, not sit through yet another classroom lesson. Still, many afterschool professionals find themselves caught between the need to integrate academics and raise test scores and kids, who just want to have fun.

The Math Explorer: Games and Activities for Middle School Youth Groups, a new curriculum developed by the Exploratorium helps to bridge this divide by providing a series of hands-on math activities that are truly fun and engaging — not just math class in disguise.

For example, one activity teaches kids to build their own “stomp rockets” out of paper and plastic soda bottles. According to author Pat Murphy, “Kids get really excited about their rockets and work hard to make them go higher and faster.” In their quest to make the perfect rocket, kids learn and employ key concepts (including geometry, measurements and problem solving) and don’t even notice the math.

To further help afterschool program staff integrate academics into their programs, The Math Explorer links each activity to math-content and process standards set by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM).

For more information, go to www.exploratorium.org