News Brief: Sparking Math Curiosity with 4th Annual Math Sidewalk Challenge

Room 17 is hosting its 4th annual Math Sidewalk Challenge starting in the middle of June. Each year, Room 17 volunteers write open-ended math problems at 32 locations around Milford. As the community visits local ice cream shops, bakeries, restaurants, boardwalks and beaches, they can talk about how they would solve the open-ended problems. The goal is to promote the fun in mathematics as well as sharing approaches to problem-solving methods.

Room 17 recently partnered with the Milford School District to include all the elementary school sites in the math walk during school with a Milford School Wide Math Challenge. Together, they aim to spark curiosity, engage students in multiple perspectives, and work together using their strong mathematical senses to find different solutions to the tasks provided. On the weekend, they add additional sites around the city of Milford.

Once you find a challenge, you can share a selfie and/or a solution on social media @Room17Math on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. You can use the hashtags #Room17Math and #MilfordMathWalkChallenge.

The locations include Milford Library, Quinn Law Firm, Walnut Beach Creamery, United Way, Gulf Beach, Walnut Beach Boardwalk, Eisenhower Park, Morningside Seawall, Five Corners Playground, Orange Ave Elementary, Meadowside Elementary, JFK Elementary, St. Mary’s, Preferred Pediatrics, CappuGinos, Milford Bank, Scoopy Doos, Sundae House, YMCA, Anchor Beach, Silver Sands Beach, Fort Trumbull, Great River Neighborhood, Frosty Twist, Mathewson Elementary, Pumpkin Delight Elementary, Orchard Hills Elementary, Live Oaks Elementary, Scratch Bakery and Café Atlantique. Room 17, Inc. is a women-run nonprofit organization with a mission to spread the joy of mathematics through engaging experiences in order to eliminate math phobia.

For more information, visit Room17Math.com/MathWalk.