Math and Science

Children who are behind in early math- and science-readiness in kindergarten are already feeling the competitive disadvantage that can follow them throughout their school years and into the workplace, impacting their options for higher education and skilled technical careers.

RIF Pittsburgh incorporates STEAM-themed books, activities and resources across all of our programming with the intent to improve math, science and reading literacy for little ones up through teens. Our STEAM initiative is a multidisciplinary approach that helps children to create strong connections between the abstract concepts presented in books and the hands-on math and science skills learned through experimentation.

Research has shown that engaging children in math and science from a young age encourages curiosity and a passion for discovery; increases print awareness, counting, and spatial skills; and piques interest in subjects from space, transportation, and engineering to the natural world. Beyond that, RIF Pittsburgh’s STEAM initiative is designed to achieve the following outcomes:  

• Expose students to a wide range of STEAM-based subject matter that broadens knowledge and sparks interest

• Engage children in science, technology, engineering, arts and math-based activities

• Help children recognize and explore STEAM-related elements of their everyday lives

• Introduce, or increase familiarity and comfort with, scientific reasoning, concepts and fact-based analysis

• Increase the number of books in low-income families’ homes, with an emphasis on offering STEAM-themed books

• Improve access to STEAM-themed books and resources in classrooms

• Build competence and confidence in math, science, engineering, the arts and technology skills, planting the seeds for children to consider STEAM careers

STEAM-themed storytimes are fundamental components of all RIF programs. Toddlers start to count and sort in Book Babies sessions, paired with simple activities touching on the seasons, nature and animals. Storymobile and Books for Keeps read-alouds often explore the world through the lens of STEAM. Children may listen, entranced, to “Ada Twist, Scientist,” “Diary of a Worm” or “Mae Among the Stars” then try a hands-on experiment that fleshes out the theme of the story, whether that’s a sniff test, getting up close and personal with rocks, or designing a glow-in-the-dark constellation. EW! and RIF Readers kids often pick science-based books to read with their mentors, and have the opportunity for fascinating, in-depth discussions.

We also have a large selection of science titles in our lending and giveaway inventories: Kids particularly love “Fly Guy” and “There Was an Old Lady” science-themed books, as well as the “Who Would Win” series, which invites kids to compare and contrast creatures based on biology, habitat and other factors. Girls and boys alike are inspired by the growing number of “Hidden Figures”-type titles, bringing greater awareness to the scientific contributions of women and people of color, and motivating children to dream big.

Our STEAM initiative has increased the quality and depth of the services that RIF Pittsburgh provides and exposed children to more challenging subject matter in a way that they embrace and enjoy.