Local teacher shares fun at-home STEM activities for students on Winter break

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Keeping the gears turning over winter break.

We spoke with a local teacher who is sharing some of her fun at-home science and math activities.

Raquel Reynolds, an algebra teacher at Arizona Virtual Academy., has dozens of fun ideas to keep kids engaged while enjoying their winter break.

She's turning simple holiday traditions into a chance to build some knowledge.

"This time of year, you often have advent calendars for your kids, make them work for it! Today is the sixth so ask them how many groups of six are in December. That's just a great way to encourage number sense because they're never going to get away from numbers," says Reynolds.

Cutting out a classic paper snowflake, but with an analytical approach.

Reynolds says "We're going to fold it using a protractor. So, that's teaching students to use technology and tools appropriately and strategically. Talk to your kids about your logical thinking because that really helps them understand critical thinking and that is of course our hope,".

She even has one for the center of gravity.

"It's just a really simple one with forks and toothpicks. It's a lot of fun because anybody can do it. Maybe not at first, but the number one mathematical practice is to make sense of problems and persevere in solving them," she adds.

She shares why these activities make such a difference.

Reynolds says "It keeps their brain active so that they retain the information that they've worked so hard for these first few months in school… Also, it takes that break from screentime so that's something that really important,".

To learn more about these fun at-home activities, click here.