Students Learn Math Using New and Innovative Methods with TheatreWorks

On Monday morning, children from four kindergarten classes at Fairmeadow Elementary School in Palo Alto gathered in front of friends, family, and teachers to debut “Playing with Math” – a collaborative, interactive learning experience pioneered by TheatreWorks of Silicon Valley with seed funding from Microsoft Silicon Valley.

“Playing with Math” is a 10-day residency program that brings the fundamentals of sequencing and patterning lessons alive through movement, acting, and singing. Students demonstrate the mathematic concepts they’ve learned through active, creative expression – and get a kinesthetic workout in the process.

“I believe that our schools need to instill a sense that math can be active, engaging and most of all creative. We also need to establish a link between math and having just plain fun,” said Mary Sutton, director of education at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. ”Adding this program to our array of arts integration offerings has been a huge success this year. I’m so pleased a program the TheatreWorks education department has developed can help teachers engage students with the love of math.”

Want to learn more about Playing with Math, and TheatreWorks? Visit the organization online at www.theatreworks.org to help support the intersection of creativity, fine arts and in-classroom learning.