Building Mathematical Minds

Mercy wanted to improve school engagement and build math and fine motor skills using art and hands-on math resources that kids could take home and share. Throughout the spring, multiple speakers shared activities and lessons, both within the classroom and out in the field. For example, Delaney Thomas from the U of A Art Museum taught art lessons, and Don Owen, an Engineer from Raytheon, brought his life-size R2D2. He shared the process of building a robot, including the math involved in his robot’s construction. Guest readers – Dusty the Roadrunner, the Tucson City Mayor, and the Sunnyside H.S. Class President also contributed to the experience.

Students loved guests coming in and were always very engaged and excited about all of the fun they had at school, which helped with attendance all year. Many students earned perfect attendance awards!

Project length

5 months

Resources

None

  • The students loved everything, especially the materials they could take home to share and eat!

    Mercy Pemberton-Negrete, Kindergarten Teacher
  • The program is a fantastic classroom resource. I wasn't really sure how to get started and how to find partners, but it all worked out really well and benefitted the students in my classroom.

    Mercy Pemberton-Negrete, Kindergarten Teacher
  • Delaney Thomas from the UofA Museum of Art came in to read to the class and teach an art lesson, followed by a trip to Sabino Canyon where docents taught about the desert. The students were so much more engaged in their learning and their trip because of what they learned from Delaney's visits to the class.

    Mercy Pemberton-Negrete, Kindergarten Teacher
  • I liked learning to draw saguaros and cactus.

    Kindergarten Student
  • I liked [Ms. Delaney’s] stories and learning about patterns and drawing patterns.

    Kindergarten Student
  • You can make things yourself. Robots can be all sizes. Robots are cool. [Mr. Owen] made it in seven months and he's making a new one. His R2D2 is the same size as the one in the movies. He had to make things over and over and not give up.

    Kindergarten Students
  • [The visitors] were fun. They read stories and did art. We like robots and art. It’s fun to meet new people at school.

    Kindergarten Students

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