Math Midway Delights Boro Students

By KAITLYN KILMETIS

Think math is merely numbers, equations and formulas? The Math Midway, a new exhibition at the New York Hall of Science, has taken on the mission to dispel that misconception.

Until April 18, the interactive exhibit will teach guests about mathematical concepts, from factorials to the Fibonacci Sequence, through entertaining activities like the Polyhedral Puzzle Plaza or the Square-Wheeled Tricycle. In total, Math Midway features 20 hands-on exhibits, each corresponding with an information card explaining the activity’s mathematical lesson.

The Math Midway is a traveling math exhibit produced by the creators of the Museum of Mathematics, which is set to open in Manhattan by 2012.

PS 16 students ride square-wheeled tricycles.

Founder Glen Whitney said the Museum, the first of its kind in the country, and the exhibit both attempt to improve the public’s perception of mathematics.

“Math is new. It’s always evolving. It’s creative,” Whitney said. “Where else can you take kids to get excited about math? There really isn’t any other place.”

On Feb. 4, fourth-graders from PS 16 in Corona were the first group to test out the exhibit.

Class 4-9 Teacher Dianna Almanzar said her 31 students loved the Math Midway.

“They were so excited,” she said. “It was like non-stop movement. They couldn’t get enough of everything.”

Almanzar said a number of students complained they didn’t want to go home when their time at the exhibit came to a close.

At a pizza lunch after visiting the exhibit, the students of class 4-9 were abuzz, expressing excitement about different activities and math in general.

“I never knew I was going to ride a bike with square wheels,” Veronica exclaimed, as classmate Yamilette explained to members of the group how the activity worked.

Diego said it was his favorite class trip and Melissa commended the staff on explaining each of the activities.

“It was really fun,” added Jared, who mentioned after the event he had a total change of heart about the subject. “I learned a lot about math. I used to hate math but after this, now I like it.”

In closing, student Sandhya said “I feel that I will always remember this moment and what I did today.” A number of other students nodded in agreement.

The Math Midway is included in the price of admission to the New York Hall of Science. For more information about NYSCI, visit nysci.org or call (718) 699-0005.

Reach Reporter Kaitlyn Kilmetis at kkilmetis@queenstribune.com, or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 128.