Math & Science at Play

The cry of many educators, businesses, and the general public is that our children have little to no working knowledge of mathematics & the sciences. But math & science are what made our country great! The understanding & use of math & science to solve everyday problems propelled our country to inventions that many have not only emulated, but have now surpassed us in their practical applications. Many of these inventors started in their backyards as kids, wondering “what if?” & “how can I build...?” with many important mistakes along the way.

• How many kids get the chance to dream up, draw, plan, build, then test their designs?
• How many kids get the chance to use measurements in a project that they then get to use everyday?
• How many kids get to consider physics as they plan how fast gravity pull is, then experience it for themselves?
• How many kids get to consider geometry as they physically experience the difference of varying planes & angles?
• How many kids to make a mistake that costs them their own time, money, and frustration, so that the next time they measure once, cut twice?

Skaters & bikers do! In a refreshingly “old school” way, they are constantly taking into consideration speed, angles starting/ending points, etc. in their riding, and the majority of them end up taking the next step of building a home ramp or two, which is just what our family has been up to the last few months. While it was a blast to build together, it was also a study in math, science, and patience; all skills the world could use more of.

Here’s the finished product:


On a larger scale, pros do this too! In April 2011, the team from Built to Shred joined forces with San Francisco’s Exploratorium to create an amazing, interactive exhibit, “Skateboard Science”. Click on links to see how the big boys roll, and a few hints on tricks from a science perspective.