If your child finds fractions and physics fun, then a trip to the National Museum of Mathematics is a must. The National Museum of Mathematics (or MoMath as it’s commonly known) is an award-winning museum located in the Flatiron district of New York City. Featuring galleries, exciting exhibits, and programs, there is so much to do at this museum that makes math come to life.
At MoMath, every exhibit is an immersive, interactive, hands-on experience. Get ready to put the training wheels back on when your child tries to ride the Square-Wheeled Trike. Four round wheels are replaced by (you guessed it) square-shaped tires. Pedaling might be problematic at first, but when your child learns that it’s not about physical force but rather carefully calculating the curved track that will allow them to pop a wheelie — almost.
Hoop Curves is a slam dunk exhibit that prepares your child to become the next LeBron James. Combining angles, physics, and the concept of thrust, use the Ball Bot to perfectly line up a basketball with the hoop. You’ll not only score two points but gain a greater insight into the forces that come into play when you, well, play.
If you thought that your fridge was covered in magnets, just wait until you see the Miles of Tiles exhibit. The exhibit encourages kids to form tiling patterns (called tessellations, by the way) on a huge wall of wonder. Will you be able to fit all the magnetic monkeys and dinosaurs together in a dazzling design? Prepare to spend some time at this fun exhibit that encourages creative thinking, supports cognitive skill development, and improve their gross motor skills.
It deserves to be mentioned that MoMath is equal parts educational as it is beautiful. For example, the spiral staircase is a visual work of art, but it also houses String Product, a sculpture that is actually a complex calculator. Through rings, wires, lights, and rods, you might be surprised to discover that the String Product is a beautiful multiplication table for numbers 1-10.
The Human Tree is one of the most popular exhibits at MoMath. Simply stand in front of a large screen, and you’ll see a projection of yourself as (you guessed it), a tree. These small carbon copies of yourself combine to make a fractal tree that mimics your every move. You might decide to dance and spin around, but sway and swing your arms to and from and you’ll swear that your child is truly a force of nature.
Harmony of the Spheres (an exhibit that explores the mystical connection between music, math, and astronomy) is an exhibit you’ll want to spend some time exploring. And Hyper Hyperboloid can feel like a piece of playground equipment. The chair will have your child tangled up in wires as they discover how spinning in the chair will create a curved surface comprised of straight lines.
You’ll need all your senses to master the Sixth Sense. A puzzle game, choose a number from each row of the grid and a number from each column of the grid. No matter what numbers you pick, they’ll always add up to 111. How is this possible? Don’t worry; the MoMath staff will happily explain the concepts of each exhibit to you.
Although the exhibits at MoMath can bring out the child in you, the museum shouldn’t be mistaken for a playground. As such, children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Depending on how immersed in math your child is, expect to spend a few hours at MoMath. Purchasing your tickets in advance is ideal, since you’ll typically pay more at the door. It costs $25 for an adult ticket, while a child’s ticket (ages 2-12) is $20.
Math is all around us every day, and the National Museum of Mathematics celebrates that scientific sentiment. And while it may not make your child look forward to their next geometry quiz, they just might remember how much fun they had at MoMath when, for a moment, they were a tree, thanks to the power and beauty of math.