'There's tremendous potential in this well-loved children's story to think mathematically,' Hintz said. In 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar,' for example, an understanding of counting helps children see that the caterpillar consumes a large amount of food before going into its cocoon and transforming into a butterfly. 'When we approach a story with a mathematical lens, it can open up opportunities to understand the story more deeply.' 'Nearly all stories offer mathematical potential,' Hintz said. The partnership's goal is to connect math, science and literacy through storytelling in integrated and meaningful ways. Hintz, along with UW Bothell Associate Professor of Educational Studies Antony Smith and the UW College of Education's INSPIRE initiative, are collaborating with Highline School District, King County Library System and the YMCA Powerful Schools program through the Boeing Corporation-funded project. 'We want to support young learners in finding joy and wonder from mathematics and science,' said Allison Hintz, an assistant professor of education studies at University of Washington Bothell who is helping lead the Partnerships for Early Learning (PEL) project. 'There's humor, there's rhyme and rhythm and narrative suspense so children are eagerly anticipating what comes next.'Ī new University of Washington project is tapping the power of storytelling to get children thinking and talking about math and science in everyday life. 'When you read aloud a good story to children, you're getting a response,' Wu said. Wu, a children's librarian for 17 years, understands how an engaging story can capture the interest of a young child.

Together, children and parents cut out pictures of rabbits and then group them in different ways to add up to 11.

'Run, fat rabbits! Run, run, run! That fox wants to eat you, one by one! Dinnertime!'Ĭhildren lean forward on the floor of Bothell Library, enthralled as children's librarian Mie-Mie Wu brings to life Sue Williams' tale of a hungry fox on the prowl.Īfter singing a counting song and listening to Wu read Eve Merriam's '12 Ways to Get to 11,' the children are joined on the floor by their parents.

Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion.Bringing math and science to story timeīringing math and science to story time Menu.

12 Ways to Get to 11 by Eve Merriam