Nonprofit Brings Math Play Spaces to Families Nationwide

MathHappens Foundation expands its interactive Math Rooms to 19 museum locations in 10 states.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 5:09am

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print featuring a repeated geometric shape in neon colors, conceptually representing the hands-on, engaging math experiences offered by MathHappens Foundation.MathHappens Foundation's interactive Math Rooms are bringing a playful, creative approach to math education in museums across the country.San Diego Today

MathHappens Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in San Diego, is expanding its national initiative of interactive Math Rooms that make math engaging and accessible for children and families. The organization will showcase its growing program at the upcoming InterActivity Conference, a leading international gathering of children's museums, educators, and cultural institutions. MathHappens' Math Rooms are now available every weekend in 19 museum locations across 10 states, with plans to add 25 more partner locations including in the US Virgin Islands and Panama.

Why it matters

MathHappens aims to transform how people experience mathematics by making it more visual, tactile, and playful. The organization believes that by giving families the space to explore, collaborate, and be curious, math can become something people want to engage with, changing the way they perceive and interact with the subject.

The details

MathHappens' Math Rooms invite children to explore mathematical thinking through puzzles, visual patterns, spatial reasoning challenges, and open-ended problem-solving. The environments are intentionally playful and flexible, allowing learners of different ages and abilities to participate at their own level while encouraging curiosity, collaboration, and persistence. The organization was founded in Austin, Texas in 2014 and has since expanded its reach to 44 locations, including in San Diego, the hometown of founder Lauren Siegel.

  • MathHappens was founded in Austin, Texas in 2014.
  • The organization will be featured at the InterActivity Conference in San Diego on April 21-23, 2026.
  • MathHappens will host public Math Room events at the San Diego New Children's Museum on April 25, 2026 and the Fleet Science Center on April 26, 2026.

The players

MathHappens Foundation

A nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming how people experience mathematics through interactive Math Rooms, open-source tools, and creative collaborations.

Lauren Siegel

Founder and Executive Director of MathHappens, who grew up in La Jolla, California and is excited to bring the organization's Math Rooms to her hometown.

Yana Mohanty, PhD

A San Diego-based mathematician and the inventor of Geometiles, an innovative tool that allows children to explore geometry through hands-on building. Mohanty frequently collaborates with MathHappens.

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What they’re saying

“MathHappens Math Rooms give people the space to explore, collaborate, and be curious. That shift changes everything, and math becomes something people want to engage with.”

— Lauren Siegel, Founder and Executive Director, MathHappens Foundation

“Museums educate differently, seeking connection with their communities and offering rich interactive experiences that engage the whole family. When people are given the space to explore, collaborate, and be curious, math becomes something they want to engage with. That shift changes everything.”

— Lauren Siegel, Founder and Executive Director, MathHappens Foundation

What’s next

MathHappens plans to continue expanding its Math Rooms to additional museum locations across the country, with a goal of reaching more families and making math a more engaging and accessible subject.

The takeaway

MathHappens' innovative approach to math education, which emphasizes hands-on exploration, collaboration, and playfulness, is helping to reshape how families experience and interact with mathematics. By bringing these interactive Math Rooms to museums nationwide, the organization is making a significant impact in making math more accessible and enjoyable for children and their families.