Here is a list of teacher workshops (and
appropriate student levels) we are offering:
Puzzle Me Math(all) --- One way to expose students
to the joys of recreational mathematics is to have a culture of
puzzles in the classroom. A well curated collection of puzzles
immerses students in a universe of spatial reasoning, logic, and
problem solving. Playing with puzzles develops persistence,
growth mindset, and intrinsic motivation. When students go on
to construct their own puzzles, their engagement is even
deeper. In this workshop, teachers will get a broad look at
many ways to bring mathematical puzzles into the classroom.
Beyond Arithmetic (primary) --- Young students learn to count
in a rote manner, often without developing a true sense of quantity
and the relationships between numbers. This workshop presents
ways to create classroom environments that promote kinesthetically
engaging hands-on experiences. Using well-known
manipulatives, such as number lines, hundreds charts, rekenreks,
etc., on a large-scale, as well as having students build their own
concrete materials, leads to a deeper understanding of number.
Teachers will also explore how to incorporate number-talks and daily
number sense routines into their early-years classroom. Platonic Solids and their Friends (primary, junior,
intermediate) --- Just as students love to learn the names of
dinosaurs, they take a particular delight in learning the names of
polyhedra ranging from the tetrahedron to the
enneacontahedron. Beyond learning their names, even young
students are surprisingly able to understand the attributes and
relationships that characterize this geometric menagerie. This
workshop is designed to familiarize teachers with a rich area of 3D
geometry that they will enjoy sharing with their students.
Zometool Geometry (all) --- Teachers will be introduced to
the creative possibilities of the Zometool geometric construction
system. They will learn about polyhedra and other 3D structures on
both a small and large scale. The geometric ideas presented are
appropriate for students of all grades, from making a geodesic play
structure in elementary grades to exploring 4D geometry at the high
school level. This workshop is suitable for teachers with an
interest in 3D geometry (we can bring materials for the day) and for
schools which have or plan to purchase Zometool material for student
use.
Paper Math (junior and up) --- Modular origami presents
natural teaching opportunities to discuss many mathematical topics
in a casual context, including symmetry, measurement, proportional
scaling, angle bisectors, polyhedra, etc. This workshop will
survey the range of origami techniques and involve teachers in two
basic modular origami designs they can use in their classes: the
octahedral frame made of six water-bomb bases and polyhedral
structures made from Sonobe units.
Outdoor Math (primary and junior) --- As the value of
outdoor education becomes widely recognized, more and more schools
are taking their students out of doors and using the natural
environment as a learning space. Looking at mathematics in the
outside world helps students see how it is all around us, e.g.,
finding patterns in flowers, leaves, or branches. They become
more flexible in their thinking as they realize it is not just a
blackboard subject but that "nature knows math". Teachers will
learn how to show their students to look at nature with a
mathematical eye and to build mathematical structures and
manipulatives using natural materials and found objects. Thinking in Binary (late primary and up) --- When
students learn about other bases it helps them understand our
base-ten place-value system more deeply. Binary, in
particular, is especially relevant because of its use in digital
technology. Through a series of fun activities, teachers will
learn about representations and operations in all bases, including
binary, to help their students become more fluent mathematical
thinkers.
Topological Adventures (junior and up) --- Topology and
mathematical surfaces can be introduced to students at any
age. In this workshop, we will start by reviewing the
well-known Möbius strip cut, then move on to a series of related
topological wonders, including how to slice a bagel into two linked
halves. Optionally, participants will learn how to use wool to
create and felt their own colorful topological surfaces that can be
worn as bracelets or displayed as fiber arts pieces in the
classroom.
3D Printing in the Math Classroom (intermediate and senior)
--- 3D printing is a valuable tool for engaging mathematics students
and providing them with motivation to master many technical
topics. Algebraic expressions are converted into 3D forms that
are then created as tangible, low-cost, plastic objects that
students can hold in their hands, take home, and/or pass around the
class. These techniques empower teachers and students to create
physical versions of anything that can be described mathematically
with algebraic, trigonometric, and Boolean functions. They introduce
students to the creative side of mathematics and provide a powerful
motivation for learning the details.
Any of the Making Math Visible
student workshops can be presented to an audience of teachers.
