NASCAR and STEM: An Unlikely Pairing…Or Not?
Written By Savvy Auntie Staff Writers
By Jaime Herndon
Sunday was NASCAR’s 57th Daytona 500, but besides the excitement on the track, NASCAR also unveiled Acceleration Nation, a program to help school-aged children become more interested in STEM subjects: science, technology, engineering, and math. The program is aimed at 8 to 12 year olds and it hopes to tie in the sport of racing, which appeals to many kids, with ideas and concepts from science and math. Most kids aren’t aware that the elements of drag on racing, the drafting formations, and the engineering of the cars are so science and math-based.
NASCAR has developed three ways to experience Acceleration Nation. The website, AccelerationNation.com, has interactive activities for children that use aspects of the STEM subjects in games, quizzes, and challenges, to help make learning fun. The classroom curriculum that goes along with the program was co-developed with Scholastic. At the racetrack, when kids go to an event with their parents, there is an interactive display especially for kids, to bring learning to a live setting.
If your nieces or nephews are big NASCAR fans – and even if they’re not – the website is a fun way to introduce them to STEM and something you can do together. The games and challenges on AccelerationNation.com are sure to have everyone on the edge of their seats – and learning, at the same time!
Introducing the Madame Alexander NASCAR Play Doll!
As if Acceleration Nation isn't enough for those NASCAR fans you love, the Madame Alexander Doll Company, known for its exquisite dolls for children and collectors, has teamed up with NASCAR and NASCAR Superstar Danica Patrick, to introduce a new line of play dolls. The NASCAR Play Dolls will be available this fall.
Melanie Notkin, Savvy Auntie founder, discovered the NASCAR dolls at Toy Fair New York earlier this month. "Nieces will love these," she said. "The team at Madame Alexander shared that one-in-three girls ages 6-11 are NASCAR fans, so these dolls are a savvy gift idea for the holiday season, birthdays, or when a cool aunt takes a NASCAR fan to her first NASCAR race," she added.
Photo:
Nascar driver, Carl Edwards, a former substitute teacher, stars in the commercial for Acceleration NationMadame Alexander NASCAR Doll collection photos: Melanie Notkin
Published: February 24, 2015