Ernst & Young and Cyberchase Make Fun Math and Problem-Solving Activities Available to the General Public

Ernst & Young and Cyberchase Make Fun Math and Problem-Solving Activities Available to the General Public

New, downloadable hands-on activities for afterschool and home help make math fun and improve kids' problem-solving skills.

NEW YORK, Feb. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Ernst & Young LLP, in conjunction with the PBS KIDS GO! series Cyberchase, released today the Ernst & Young/Cyberchase Travel Edition. This tool, which can be used independently or in conjunction with the award-winning, animated PBS KIDS GO! television show, provides teachers, volunteers and the general public with hands-on activities that bring math concepts to life. All materials are available to the general public at www.ey.com/us/cyberchase.

Ernst & Young is expanding its commitment to education by offering the Ernst & Young/Cyberchase Travel Edition for free on its website. Ernst & Young has provided major funding for Cyberchase for over two years. Cyberchase, which is produced for PBS KIDS GO! by THIRTEEN and Title Entertainment Inc. in association with WNET.ORG, teaches kids math and problem-solving concepts in a fun and understandable way. It is designed to support interest and achievement in math for children ages eight to 12 -- the critical years when many children, particularly girls and minorities, decide whether they like or are good at the subject. As part of its relationship, more than 400 Ernst & Young employees have helped more than 1,000 disadvantaged kids improve their math skills through afterschool volunteer programs in 15 US cities.

Evidence has been mounting in recent years that American students are falling behind the rest of the world in math and science, threatening US competitiveness. A 2008 study by the American Mathematical Society highlights a critical need to improve math skills of children in the US. The Ernst & Young/Cyberchase Volunteer Program and the Travel Edition hands-on activities reinforce concepts explored in the television show that increase children's confidence in math and problem-solving. These initiatives reflect the firm's commitment to improving education and helping young people, particularly girls and minorities, build a math foundation for careers in business, science and engineering, while encouraging them to manage their personal finances as they move into their teen years.

"Parents are encouraged to read to their children every day, but efforts to foster children's math skills are not as common. With that said, we are excited to expand our Cyberchase relationship by joining PBS, THIRTEEN and WNET.ORG in bringing fun and educational activities to the general public," explained Deborah Holmes, Global Director of Corporate Responsibility, Ernst & Young LLP. "Through our volunteer program, our employees have seen the impact this type of hands-on curriculum can have in helping kids learn, and enjoy, math. Now, we are able to share this program with a much broader audience."

"We're excited to be able to bring Cyberchase to a wider audience through this innovative partnership with Ernst & Young," said Sandra Sheppard, Executive Producer of Cyberchase. "The Ernst & Young/Cyberchase Travel Edition will expand the educational power of Cyberchase and empower young people to master the math skills that will help propel them on the road to success in life. We at WNET.ORG and THIRTEEN applaud Ernst & Young for its active role in creating educational opportunities for America's youth."

The Ernst & Young/Cyberchase Travel Edition includes four sets of math and problem-solving activities. The games are meant to help children, ages eight to 12, practice planning, estimating, measuring and other basic math concepts. All activities come with step-by-step instructions and have different durations and themes so they can fit specific needs, venues, and audiences. Many of the activities can be turned into contests, allowing larger groups to use them in forums like after-school programs or during workplace events. Ernst & Young's employees, for example, plan to use these activities during Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day.

The Travel Edition experiments, puzzles and activities are focused on "Math and Building." By integrating math with hands-on construction, this set of activities take a trial-and-error approach to building bridges, towers and teepees using common household materials like toothpicks and marshmallows. Through these activities, children explore how changes in shapes and design impact the strength of structures.

Activity 1: Make a Teepee.

This group activity helps students identify and use patterns and structures found in nature to solve everyday problems. Students build a teepee using paper plates and newspaper.

Activity 2: Step by Step: Making a Bridge.

In this lesson, kids learn to solve problems one step at a time. Through trial-and-error, they build a bridge using only newspaper and tape.

Activity 3: Toothpick Towers.

This activity teaches kids about support structures. Using toothpicks, they build a tower, while learning about the relative strength of various geometric shapes.

Back Pocket Activities

These supplementary activities complement the Math and Building activity set. They reinforce the Travel Edition lessons to help kids identify and construct shapes, work with two- and three-dimensional structures and improve their spatial-visual skills.

About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 135,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.

For more information, please visit www.ey.com.

Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young LLP is a client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited located in the U.S.

About CYBERCHASE

CYBERCHASE - the only math series for children on American TV - airs daily on PBS KIDS GO! across the country. Since its premiere in 2002, the award-winning math mystery cartoon has used humor, action and adventure to get kids excited - and confident - about math and problem solving skills. The series has been recognized with many awards, including the Daytime Emmy and the Parents' Choice Award. CYBERCHASE appears on more than 500 PBS stations and digital channels across the U.S. and reaches 4 million viewers weekly. CYBERCHASE Online (pbskidsgo.org/cyberchase) enhances the TV experience with award-winning content and multi-level math games for kids, as well as activities, lessons, and resources for parents and teachers.

CYBERCHASE is produced by THIRTEEN in association with Title Entertainment, Inc. and WNET.ORG

About WNET.ORG

New York public media company WNET.ORG is a pioneering provider of television and Web content. The parent of THIRTEEN, WLIW21 and Creative News Group, WNET.ORG brings such acclaimed broadcast series and Web sites as Worldfocus, Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, Charlie Rose, Wide Angle, Secrets of the Dead, Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, Visions, Consuelo Mack WealthTrack, Wild Chronicles, Miffy and Friends, and Cyberchase to national and international audiences. Through its wide range of channels and platforms, WNET.ORG serves the entire New York City metro area with unique local productions, broadcasts and innovative educational and cultural projects. In all that it does, WNET.ORG pursues a single, overarching goal - to create media experiences of lasting significance for New York, America and the world. For more information, visit www.wnet.org.

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Source: Ernst & Young LLP

CONTACT: Samantha Sims of Ernst & Young LLP, +1-201-872-1683,
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