Families can "shape up" their math skills while discovering how relevant math is to everyday life at "Flip it, Fold it, Figure it Out!," the newest exhibition at Discovery Place, in Charlotte.

The exhibition is free with general museum admission and runs through Wednesday, Dec. 31.

"Flip it, Fold it, Figure it Out!" features engaging activity centers that encourage guests to "play with math." Visitors can create quilt and tile patterns; experiment with drum beat rhythms; identify three-dimensional mystery shadow shapes; fold origami to see its application to science; explore volume concepts using containers of different shapes and sizes to hone skills in measurement, arithmetic and geometry; and play with reflective symmetry.

Developed specifically for children in elementary through middle school, the exhibition is comprised of a main activity surrounded by a collection of related objects and images --- from blueprints and telescope lenses, to sneakers and rugs. Gathered from around the world, the collections illustrate how architects and product designers, craftsmen and scientists use the same skills that visitors can use to understand how math affects our everyday lives.

Creators of the exhibit maintain that anyone can learn and enjoy math if the lesson is fun, interactive and relevant to daily life.

"Learning to read gives children a chance to read street signs, menus and books," says Mary Russell-Roberson, education researcher with the Museum of Life and Science in Durham and one of the exhibit developers. "Learning to write lets them communicate with others and create their own stories. With math, children often don't experience this immediate connection and reinforcement. So one of the best ways to help children with math is to make it matter."

"Flip it, Fold it, Figure it Out!" was produced by the Museum of Life and Science in conjunction with the Grassroots Science Museum Collaborative, and made possible with funds from the National Science Foundation.

For more information on pricing or programming, call (704) 372-6261, extension 300 or visit discoveryplace.org.

Discovery Place is located in uptown Charlotte at 301 N. Tryon Street. Parking is available in the science center's parking garage at the corner of Sixth and Church streets.