Rebecca Rapoport holds degrees in mathematics from Harvard and Michigan State. From her first job out of college, as one of the pioneers of Harvards internet education offerings, she has been passionate about encouraging her love of math in others As an early contributor to both retail giant Amazon.com and Akamai Technologies, the No. 1 firm in cloud computing, Rapoport played a key role in several elements of the internet revolution. Rapoport returned to her first love, education, as an innovator of new methods to introduce children and adults to the critically important world of STEM as COO of Einsteins Workshop, an enrichment center dedicated to helping kids explore the creative side of science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEM/STEAM). One of Einsteins Workshops most popular classes for 6- to 10-year-olds is Recreational Math, whose popularity inspired the creation of this book. More recently, Rapoport co-founded a start-up creating a mobile app for sharing dynamic, mappable guides that tell stories, impart knowledge, and create unique experiences.J. Yoder is an educator who has a lifetime love of puzzles and patterns. Her educational philosophy is that hands-on creative work is both the most fun and the most effective way to learn. Some of her happiest memories come from eureka moments--either from learning something that makes a dozen other things suddenly make sense, or the sense of accomplishment that comes from solving a clever puzzle--the only thing better is sharing this joy with others.
"A wonderful collection of attractive math topics that will
entertain and inform kids (and their parents). A great way to share
a stimulating learning activity." - Ronald L. Graham, Professor in
Computer Science and Engineering at the University of California,
San Diego, former Mathematical Association of America president,
former American Mathematical Society president, former Bell Labs
Chief Scientist
"This compilation of fresh, hands-on STEM activities explores a
variety of mathematical concepts, from basic geometric shapes to
parabolas, fractals, and puzzles...Recommended for libraries and
educators seeking a tactile approach to elementary mathematics." –
Doneanne Soult, Westampton Middle School, NJ, for School Library
Journal
"Required materials are all readily available: in the opening
pages, children can use gumdrops and toothpicks like Tinkertoys to
build cubes, pyramids, and other three-dimensional structures; many
projects need nothing more than pencil and paper. Removable paper
templates are provided for some of the activities. Rapaport and
Yoder make the projects accessible to readers of varying skill
levels, whether they are learning about basic shapes or developing
a more advanced understanding of mathematics." - Publishers
Weekly
“Five thematic chapters define broad types of applications, such as
curves and fractals, graph theory, and topology. This collection of
activities celebrates an inquiry-based approach to learning math,
which may be an excellent complement to more traditional classroom
curricula, especially for reluctant learners. As such, it’s a great
resource for parents, teachers, and curious young readers alike.” -
Erin Anderson, Booklist Online
'With more than 50 activities inside, there's so much to do,
whether it's making prisms and pyramids or building your own
toothpick puzzles.'
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