MathWorks Partners with The Discovery Museums to Bring Hands-On Science Workshops to Elementary Schools for the Third Year

(EDITOR'S NOTE: The following was submitted by Ann Sgarzi.)

The Discovery Museums announced today a renewed partnership with MathWorks of Natick to bring the museums’ Traveling Science Workshops (TSW) program to elementary schools for 2012-2013. TSW is state curriculum-based program that brings hands-on science and STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Math) concepts into K-8 classrooms throughout New England. This is the third consecutive year that MathWorks has underwritten the program.

Now in its 20^th year, Traveling Science Workshops serve more than 24,000 students each year and is the only classroom-based program of its kind in the Commonwealth. Science concepts come to life through a set of 19 age-appropriate workshop topics that support Massachusetts curriculum standards and STEM initiatives. Topics include Light & Lasers, Rocks & Minerals, Simple Machines, Sound, Static Electricity, Magnets, Green Energy, Flight and Physical Changes of Matter. Dynamic science educators excite students’ curiosity with fun, hands-on discovery that demystifies science concepts, strengthens problem solving skills, and reinforces the scientific method.  Classroom teachers and parents receive follow-up activities to reinforce learned concepts.

“Elementary school is the perfect time to spark excitement about science, technology, engineering and math,” said Jeanne O’Keefe, senior vice president and CFO of MathWorks. “By bringing hands-on activities into the classroom, The Discovery Museums make these subjects easily accessible and fun. This is critical to capturing the imagination and long-term interest of young learners.”

“Kids learn by doing, playing and experimenting, and it is so important to foster this in the early years,” said Neil Gordon, CEO of The Discovery Museums. “MathWorks’ sponsorship of our Traveling Science Workshops is important because it enables us to help more kids experience science by doing, and to realize that science doesn’t just happen in a lab by someone wearing a white coat.  It’s all around them and they can be a part of it.”