What’s This String Thing?

Benjamin Harrison Elementary School staff, students and parents were observed engaging in strange and funny behaviors using string … pasta….and beans! Were they learning how to tie up their winter "to-do" list? Were they taking cooking lessons? Were they making decorations?

No, but they were working on their school improvement and professional development goals by exploring these materials as mathematical tools during a free Buddy² Family Math program. In the afternoon the Buddy² staff tied the Harrison teachers up in standards-based, hands-on math problem solving activities using inexpensive, readily available materials. That evening the Buddy² staff roped Harrison families into learning how to play constructively with household materials (string, pasta, beans, etc.) and turn them into math activities which require thinking, manipulating, sharing and laughing.

Harrison and Buddy² staff will collaborate again in spring on another one of their school improvement and professional development goals – writing.