Math and science is everywhere in our daily lives — it's "Just Everyday Stuff." And that's the message Cincinnati Public Schools is sending to parents and students as part of the GE Foundation Grant.
The message itself is simple: math and science concepts are not remote and unattainable. If you think about it, math and science are used every day in many simple routine tasks, such as figuring out measurements in a recipe or counting out coins to purchase something.
The "Just Everyday Stuff" campaign is part of the constituency engagement component of the GE Foundation's $20-million grant to CPS. The grant is focused on generating awareness and excitement about math and science among students, families and the community.
Students were actively involved in developing the campaign's slogan. Focus groups were held to determine which phrase resonated the best with students, and "Math & Science: Just Everyday Stuff" was the winner.
Banners, like the one shown above, will be posted in schools and used during events designed to highlight school math and science engagement activities.
The "Just Everyday Stuff" campaign will kick off in February 2008, when a Math & Science Question of the Day will be asked each weekday on Channel 5's morning weather segment at 6:15 a.m. The questions, designed to be engaging and connected to everyday life, will be answered later the same morning, around 6:45 a.m.
CPS teachers are participating by incorporating Channel 5's Math & Science Question of the Day into their classroom lessons. School staff also may plan special family involvement activities to break down barriers to understanding math and science or to highlight career opportunities in math and science for students to explore.