M² is a summer program focused on

(1) promoting children’s creativity and imagination in learning mathematics

(2) expanding children’s interest in mathematics

(3) generating instructional tools for teaching mathematics to children

(4) learning how teachers can improve instructional practices for teaching mathematics to children.

Basically seeing mathematics all around us!

Designing the Mural

In 2021, Professor Krause collaborated with Ms. Finchum’s ESL (English as a Second Language) classroom.

During the school year, we worked on different mathematical ideas. But the focus remained on problem-solving and engaging students in unpacking, understanding, and solving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division word problems. We also worked on estimating time and solving fraction problems.

Over the summer, students from Ms. Finchum’s classroom attended a summer camp as part of Professor Krause’s research grant, where we applied what they had been learning to the mural.

And here is the result of our creative and hard work!

From the Beginning to the End

Scroll down to explore the amazing work the students and collaborators have done and see how far we’ve come!

The First Mural

The Second Mural

The Third Mural