A collaborative project called Funtivities sponsored by Iowa State’s Program for Women in Science and Engineering is allowing boys and girls to see the fun side of math and science.

“Funtivities is a hands-on math and science curriculum,” said Barbara Lograsso, program coordinator for women in science and engineering.

Students can get ideas from the Web site for hands-on math and science activities that teach them about electricity, energy and pressure, Lograsso said.

Funded by the National Science Foundation, Funtivities was a collaboration between the Program for Women in Science and Engineering, the ISU Extension Science, Engineering and Technology, Iowa 4-H Youth Development, Boddy Media Group,and Moingona Girl Scout Council, she said.

The Funtivities Web site is aimed at young girls, in particular, so they can see the fun and interesting aspects of math and science, said Kim Shelquist, researcher on the project from Boddy Media Group.

“One activity is featured each month on the Web site,” Lograsso said, and there also is a listing of archived activities.

She said there are booklets of activities available through the ISU Extension Distribution Center. Level one activities are primarily for elementary students and Level two are available for middle-school students.

Funtivities was designed to give kids something to do on a Saturday afternoon, Shelquist said. They also can be used by math and science teachers, youth organization leaders and child care providers.

“The activities are designed to be very informal,” Shelquist said. “They can be as simple as teaching kids about static electricity by rubbing balloons against their hair.”

Boddy Media Group in Des Moines became involved because of the “idea that there needed to be some kind of research done on how young kids perceive math and science,” Shelquist said. “We found out that girls and boys interact differently in math and science. We also learned that kids are more engaged in learning when they can see it as fun and more relevant to them.”

The Web site, www.Funtivities.com, provides ideas for activities and the opportunity to see what else in math and science interests them, Shelquist said.

There are links to other sites and information on how to check out a kit from the Extension Distribution with all the items needed for the activities.

ISU students are using Funtivities as part of an outreach program where they visit boys and girls clubs, Lograsso said. They volunteer as role models to 4-H members and girl scouts, and they also visit schools.