talkSTEM Virtual Math and Science Festival

We welcome you to the very first Virtual Math and Science Festival! This online experience is curated by talkSTEM in partnership with a number of high caliber organizations. Our partners are experts of a wide variety of fields and range from research institutions, to dance theaters. To join the fun, simply visit the Virtual Math and Science Festival 2021 playlist on the talkSTEM YouTube Channel. This free resource is designed for parents, teachers and after school educators.

You can draw, design, write, calculate, record experimental data, and more in this passport! You can also encourage your child to create their own activity schedule. Give them the power to make decisions with the passport.

For example, you can set aside some time each day to complete 1 activity with your child. Give them the opportunity to navigate the playlist and use the passport to prioritize and select the activities they’d like to try.

For educators, you can share this passport through your online classes and give credit to students who complete the assignment. This is a great way to get the students learning actively, away from the screen.

There are hours of activities available for you and your family or students to try, also there are some unique performance based activities thanks to fantastic partners like Dallas Black Dance Theatre (and it’s all FREE)!

1. What ages is this playlist for?
   A: Pre K – 6th grade. There are some videos in particular that definitely relate to beyond that age range, for example ‘Where is Math in Music’ video by Texins Jazz Band. We recommend that parents, students, and teachers take a look and feel free to use as they feel is best for their children and students.
2. I am NOT good at math, how can I use this with my kids?
   A: That is completely OK! You do not have to be a math wiz or even a fan of math to participate. The goal is for you to be a guide on the side, not a sage on the stage. The activities and passport are created intentionally to walk you and your child through the activity.
3. I have two kids, one in kindergarten, one in middle school, how can they use this?
   A: Encourage the children to work together when watching the videos and trying the activities. Your older child will benefit from guiding the younger one. Here, they can also come up with new questions and extensions if you encourage them to allow themselves to be inspired by what she watches in the video collection. We also encourage older children to participate in the Create Your Own walkSTEM activity : https://pre24.talkstem.org/create-your-own-walkstem/
4. My kid HATES math and won’t use this, how do i do this?
   A: We focus on making connections between math and the child’s REAL WORLD. We integrate sports, art, music, dance, theatre, design, video games, board games, parks, and more in our educational materials.
5. I don’t have a lot of supplies at home, how do I do this?
   A: The materials required for activities in this playlist involve everyday materials such as tape, paper, glue. No expensive or unusual materials and special kits are required.
6. I am working from home and cannot work one on one with my child during the day, can I still use this?
   A: Yes! Ideally, we would like for an adult to guide from the side when a child is working on the activities and passport. Depending on the age, you can give your child the challenge of ‘complete at least 2 of these videos and write down your questions on this sheet’, then you can go over their questions the end of the day.

Visit the talkSTEM Learning Suite to view more educational resources and activities.

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