USC Rossier and Mattel Launch Educational Kids Program

The USC Rossier School of Education and the Mattel Children's Foundation introduced a new curriculum for fourth-graders that uses the popular Hot Wheels toy cars.

According to USC News, the program, called "Speedometry", is a hands-on program that teaches the fundamentals of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The curriculum was created to align with Core Curriculum standards.

Robert Goodwin, executive director of the Mattel Children's Foundation, was quoted in the article saying, "Speedometry is a perfect example of the meaningful difference play can make in the development of children."

USC Rossier assistant dean for research, Cathrynn Dharntya, led a team of scientists in studying the mental processes leading to successful learning in science and math.

The program is only currently available in three Southern California schools, but a corresponding website for the program will be available later this fall. The website will feature a Spanish version for bilingual classrooms, learning assessment tools for teachers and opportunities for parental engagement. UAC