# Archived Information 

# ![](media/image1.png){width="1.1333333333333333in" height="1.5in"}#5

# A SMARTER SUMMER: 

# Math and Science

**By Carol H. Rasco, Director, America Reads Challenge**

Parents, do you remember learning this math fact?

**The distance between Point A and Point B equals the distance between
Point B and Point A.**

Or, in the words of Mother Goose:

***From Wimbleton to Wobbleton is fifteen miles.***

***From Wobbleton to Wimbleton is fifteen miles.***

***From Wimbleton to Wobbleton, from Wobbleton to Wimbleton,***

***From Wimbleton to Wobbleton is fifteen miles***.

Which version so you think your child would recall? Certainly the funny
one is more memorable. Mother Goose disguises the math in a wonderful
poem that introduces the same concept.

It's human nature to enjoy learning. Kids and adults master new concepts
best when learning is creative and hands-on. Imagine your child playing
"Wimbleton to Wobbleton" with toy trains and a ruler and you're
picturing a successful math experience.

Although it's centuries old, Mother Goose's simple lesson can teach us a
lot in the summer of 2000. That's because summertime is the right time
for math and science fun. Opportunities abound, and wise use of the
summer months can give your child an advantage when school resumes.
Studies show that kids keep skills sharp when they exercise their brains
during school vacation.

As we adults know, the demand for skills in mathematics and science is
growing quickly. To be successful in college and the workplace, today's
students must master challenging math and science skills. But it's easy
to help your child get ready.

The first step is to nurture a positive attitude toward math and
science. Girls in particular may benefit from extra encouragement. Avoid
comments like "science isn\'t for everybody" or "I didn't like math
either."

Second, let your child explore the variety of interests that summer
study offers. If a special interest develops in butterflies or the speed
of a baseball pitch, let the child take the lead. Follow up with library
books, Web sites, and outings that feed the child's imagination.

(more)

**U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 400 MARYLAND AVENUE S.W. WASHINGTON, DC
20202-0107**

Tel: 202/401-8888 Fax: 202/260-8114 E-mail: AmericaReads@ed.gov Web:
www.ed.gov/americareads

**A Smarter Summer: Math and Science (continued)**

Third, use summer's relaxed schedule to offer kids the chance to
experiment freely. Or, as Mother Goose puts it:

***Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.***

***Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.***

***All the king's horses and all the king's men***

***Couldn't put Humpty together again.***

Kids can guess: what will happen if an egg is dropped on a sidewalk, a
pillow, or a lawn? They can test their predictions and determine cause
and effect. They can experiment: why can't an egg be put back together
again? They can introduce variables: what if the egg is hard-boiled?
What if it is covered in bubble wrap? What if the height of the drop is
changed?

As you can see, you don't need special tools to help your kids learn
math and science. Simple collections of rocks, shells, or bugs enable
children to practice counting and to see similarities and patterns.
Household items like newspapers, laundry, clocks, and plants can become
tools for learning. Special summer outings such as nature walks or block
walks can expand your child's math and science horizons.

By playing Mother Goose and Father Gander, you can guide your children
toward a zany, brainy summer.

*For free publications on helping your children learn, call the U.S.
Department of Education at (877) 4ED-PUBS. Ask about "Summer Home
Learning Recipes", the "Learning Partners" booklet, or the "Helping Your
Child Learn" series. (Order materials online at www.ed.gov/pubs.) For
more information on math and science learning, call (800) USA-LEARN.*