See the Math and STEM Embedded in the Real World

Our videos reflect years of work developing programs that use place-based education to inspire youth interest in Math and STEM. Take a virtual Math, STEM, or STEAM (the “A” is for Arts) walk using our open-access video library, anywhere you are. Use the filters to explore and find the videos that match your curiosity or your curricular topic. These videos are suited for classrooms, out of school learning programs, families and children at home, or on the go using your mobile device. All our videos are inquiry-based and we hope that watching them inspires children to see the math and STEM that is alive all around them and to pose their own questions about their environments.


We invite all educators and children to search for videos based upon their interests. You can search by place, by math topic, by other themes, or any combination of these. Enjoy!
Visit this page on talkSTEM.org to access guidance on creating math walks at your site right now.

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How can we create repeating patterns based on what we see in this beadwork?

Dallas Museum of Art: Bead-embroidered prestige hat (mpaan), 20th century. Kuba peoples, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa

Gym, St. Philip’s School & Community Center

How do we identify the mathematical patterns used to construct this artwork?

Dallas Museum of Art: Wall Drawing #398, 1983, drawn April 1985. Sol LeWitt (Color ink wash)

Where are the patterns in this artwork, and how do they help create certain feelings and structure?

Dallas Museum of Art: Guitar and Pipe, 1913. Juan Gris (Oil and charcoal on canvas)

Dallas Museum of Art: Genesis, The Gift of Life, 1954. Miguel Covarrubias (Glass mosaic on concrete)

What is mathematical about the patterns on this bowl?

Dallas Museum of Art: Ceramic Bowl, 13th century (Iran, Asia). The Keir Collection of Islamic Art on loan to the Dallas Museum of Art

Which types of birds can use a birdhouse of these dimensions?

A Birdhouse at the Twelve Hills Nature Center

What is special about the cottonwood tree’s leaf shape that allows it to be so loud?

Cottonwood Tree at the Twelve Hills Nature Center

What about its geometry makes the yucca so well-suited for its environment?

Yucca at the Twelve Hills Nature Center

What about the geometry of this tree makes it so good at keeping us cool?

Live Oak tree (or Cave Tree) at the Twelve Hills Nature Center

What’s the Really Big Number Here?

Hall of State, Fair Park

What geometric patterns can we identify on a leaf?

The Magnolia Trees at the Dallas Arboretum

What determines where leaves are positioned on branches?

The Rhododendron Bushes at the Dallas Arboretum

What Angles do We Make when We Walk?

Movement scientist looks at the phenomenon of walking, with a focus on angles.

What is Symmetry? – Turtle Pond

Turtle Pond, NorthPark Center

What shapes are in turtles and other living things? – Turtle Pond

Turtle Pond, NorthPark Center

How do the Hammering Men move?

Jonathan Borofsky, Hammering Man – steel and motor 1984-1985, by the Neiman Marcus of the Northpark Center

How do gears create movement?

Jonathan Borofsky, Hammering Man – steel and motor 1984-1985, by the Neiman Marcus of the Northpark Center

What’s the Mathematical Mystery Here? Fountain

Fountain, NorthPark Center

How symmetrical is a Buckyball?

Leo Villareal, Buckyball – LEDs, aluminum, electronics 2015, Centerpark Garden, Northpark Center

How tall are the flagpoles?

Flagpoles, Dallas City Hall Plaza

Using arrays, how many windows are there?

Texas School Book Depository exterior

How can we measure arches and lines?

West End Historical District, arches

What volume of water is in the fountain?

Dealey Plaza

What is the speed of the water?

Ronald Kirk Bridge

What patterns can you find?

St. Philip’s School & Community Center

How many angles can you find using the angle-a-tron?

Greenhill School campus

What shapes bring us together?

Greenhill School campus

What Can You Measure in Bamboo Plants?

Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas Arts District

What is a Mathematical Fossil Hunt?

Hall Texas Sculpture Walk in Dallas Arts District

What’s the Really Big Number here?

Mount Auburn STEAM Academy, Dallas ISD

How do we make the Swing go high?

Playground, Mount Auburn STEAM Academy, Dallas ISD

Similar Triangles or Not?

Esplanade, Fair Park

What is Art Deco?

Esplanade, Fair Park

How long is the spiral?

Hockaday School campus

How does the pendulum move?

Crow Science Center, Hockaday School

How many tiles are there?

Hockaday School campus

What is the golden ratio?

The Hill Family Fitness Center, Hockaday School

How tall is the sculpture?

Hockaday School campus

How High Does it Climb?

Alexander Liberman, Venture – steel 2019, at the Dallas Love Field Airport, Parking Garage C

How does geometry relate to the Campanile Windows?

Octavio Medellin, Campanile Window – stained glass 1960, reinstalled 2014 at the Dallas Love Field Airport Ticketing Hall

What is an Irregular Quadrilateral?

Octavio Medellin, Campanile Window – stained glass 1960, reinstalled 2014 at the Dallas Love Field Airport Ticketing Hall

What’s the Mathematical Pattern?

Lane Banks, Untitled (Love Field) – tile 2012, East Tunnel from Parking Garage into the Dallas Love Field Airport Check-in

How do Forces Work?

Brower Hatcher & Marly Rogers, Sky – fiberglass 2013, Main Concourse of the Dallas Love Field Airport

How Can We Estimate the Amount of Water on Earth?

Luighi “Tony” Flabiano of American Terrazzo, World Map – terrazzo 1959, Main Lobby of the Dallas Love Field Airport

How Hard Do Robots Work?

Luggage Management Area of Dallas Love Field Airport

How tall is the Ad Astra sculpture?

Mark Di Suvero, Ad Astra – steel 2005, Northcourt between Nordstrom and Macy’s, Northpark Center

What is the angle at the very top of the Ad Astra sculpture?

Mark Di Suvero, Ad Astra – steel 2005, Northcourt between Nordstrom and Macy’s, Northpark Center

What are Color Equations?

Pamela Nelson and Robert A. Wilson, Color Equations – aluminum and vinyl 2007, Nordstrom Court, Northpark Center

What Kinds of Angles Are There?

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

How Can you Estimate the Number of Books on the Shelf?

J. Erik Jonsson Central Public Library – Teen Spot

How Does Perspective Create an Optical Illusion?

J. Erik Jonsson Central Public Library – Teen Spot

How Big is Your Imagination?

J. Erik Jonsson Central Public Library – Children’s Section

What is Symmetry?

J. Erik Jonsson Central Public Library – Louise Kahn Pavilion

How Many are in the Array?

J. Erik Jonsson Central Public Library – Louise Kahn Pavilion

How Can We Determine Map Scale?

Red Bird Mall

Why is the Ceiling Made of Triangles?

Red Bird Mall

How Does a Sundial Work?

Dallas Hall at Southern Methodist University campus

How Symmetrical Is It?

Hughes Trigg Student Center at Southern Methodist University campus

What Is an Ellipse?

Blanton Student Services Building at Southern Methodist University campus

How do you use mathematical clues?

Blanton Student Services Building at Southern Methodist University campus

How to Estimate the Capacity of the Football Stadium?

Gerald G. Ford Stadium at Southern Methodist University campus

How did Calatrava Build this Sculpture?

Calatrava Wave Sculpture outside Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University campus

What is Symmetry Doing for Us?

Dallas Hall Rotunda at Southern Methodist University campus

How Do You Create Your Own Labyrinth?

Habito Labyrinth at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University campus

What’s the Most Symmetrical Solid?

Children’s Playground at Klyde Warren Park in the Dallas Arts District

How Did the Architects Play with Numbers?

Sammons Park at AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District

How Can Latitude Affect Design?

Sammons Park at AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District

How Can we Estimate Really Tall Things We Can’t Reach?

Sammons Park at AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District

Where Can We See Symmetry in this Airplane?

Tuskegee Airmen Exhibit at the Frontiers of Flight Museum