On a beautiful spring Saturday morning, my two six-year-olds engaged in math games and activities in the Benjamin Banneker Math Room at the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) for over an hour — and they could have stayed and played longer!
In partnership with Math Happens, the Seattle Universal Math Museum, and the Benjamin Banneker Association, the new Benjamin Banneker Math Room at the NAAM is filled with activities geared to engage kids (and are just as engaging for their grown-ups!) with math and engineering concepts.
Benjamin Banneker was a famous thinker who lived from 1731 to 1806. (Image: Ellie White)
This new interactive exhibit, open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., fits in with the mission of the NAAM, which is “to utilize Black heritage to cultivate healing and hope.” Mariama Suwaneh, Programs Manager at the NAAM, notes that the museum works to fulfill this mission by providing opportunities to empower youth.
Suwaneh explains that when the museum was approached with the opportunity to create the Math Room, it seemed like a natural fit. The museum already had a literacy program — now it offers STEM programming to the community as well.
Baker was an inventor, mathematician, and astronomer. (Image: Ellie White)
As the name explains, the Math Room is inspired by Benjamin Banneker, a famous thinker who lived from 1731 to 1806. He was an inventor, mathematician, and astronomer. From the coloring pages in the Math Room, we learn that Banneker was an almanac author, landowner, and farmer, and that he helped create Washington D.C.’s borders.
The setup of the Math Room is simple and unassuming; it consists of a few tables with puzzles, blocks, activities, and books in the Community Living Room near the entrance to the museum.
As the least expensive museum in the city, the NAAM offers affordable access for the community. (Image: Ellie White)
I wasn’t sure how my kids would interact with the Math Room, but interact they did! My son began by working on a puzzle, and my daughter on a coloring page of Benjamin Banneker. Throughout the next hour, he was engaged in a gear activity (putting different-sized gears on a wooden board), they worked on puzzles (figuring out how to get different-sized shapes to fit into a wooden frame), and they played with large blocks (manipulating them to make different shapes and patterns).
A highlight of the experience were the volunteers who supported my kids as they explored. They asked thoughtful questions and provided suggestions as my kids played. The whole time we were there, we were the only visitors, so my kids got the undivided attention of two volunteers for much of the time. The experience might be a bit different if more community members are enjoying the room at the same time. The volunteers played a large role in how my kids experienced the games and activities.
The Math Room is in the Community Living Room near the entrance to the museum. (Image: Ellie White)
While the Math Room may seem geared toward youth, Suwaneh says it’s accessible and for all ages. More than one staff member pointed out that adults often have just as much (or more!) fun than kids when they’re in the space.
Suwaneh further points out that, as the least expensive museum in the city, the NAAM offers affordable access for the community. Admission to the museum (which includes access to the Math Room) is $5 for youth 18 and younger (free for kids under age 3), and $10 for adults. It’s open from Thursday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (on First Thursdays it’s open until 7 p.m.). Reminder again that the Benjamin Banneker Math Room is only open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
