“The puzzles and games ideally help them to think about what's happening in the puzzle, why it's happening, and how to explore challenges involved with math,” she continued. “We saw that children stayed engaged with all of the various activities, tried them multiple times, and really thought about what was happening. I think it’s a hit.”
That was a sentiment shared by Erin Gilligan, a parent who attended with her child, who was drawing one of the math puzzles. “When we saw this promoted at their school, we thought it would be fun to attend,” she said. “And we’ve had a blast.”
In addition to mathematics, several of the games and activities were dedicated to teaching skills such as computer science. “We’re specifically interested in teaching computer science to the next generation, and we think that getting kids involved in it at a young age is important,” said April Trainor ’24.
Another popular activity involved the manipulation of electrical currents. Children learned how to create a complete circuit using basic equipment they might have seen at home, like a light bulb and batteries. To accomplish this they would use wires, touch the end of the battery to the lightbulb, and subsequently light it. If they were able to succeed in the basic challenge, they could move on to more complex electrical challenges, using generators and motors.
Colleen Countryman, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, assisted with the event and enjoyed the experience. “Every year, this event seems to be more and more popular," she said. “I’m glad we’re able to offer it to the community and that they see its value.”
