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Spark & Whetstonethe grown-up commons

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Thinking in Rates

Pace, speed and the arithmetic of a race: one number over another, the same speed in two units, why a longer race is slower per mile, and how age-grading lets a family compare across the generations.

For grown-ups, from what SplitForge teaches children at Spark & Anvil.

  1. Lesson 1One number over another
  2. Lesson 2The same speed, two ways
  3. Lesson 3A longer race is slower
  4. Lesson 4Age-grading
At the table · 2 to 8, any ages, walkers welcome

The family relay

You'll need: a measured loop (a park path, a block), a phone or watch with a timer, paper.

  1. Everyone walks or runs one lap and writes down their time.
  2. Each person works out their own pace for the lap, then predicts the whole relay's time if everyone does one lap in turn.
  3. Run the relay. Compare the prediction with the real total and talk about which leg surprised you.

Print the guidebook (all lessons + the table activity) →