Take and Make: The new Spectre Tiles for Math Teacher’s Circle of Austin

Lauren SiegelCommunity, Events, We think math is fun!Leave a Comment

Professor Jennifer Austin hosts this great group and some of our favorite friends were in attendance.  The plan was to have teachers put together a tabletop magnetic whiteboard display of the Einstien or Hat Tile discovered in March this year, but …. Surprise! another tile, called the Spectre that does not have to be reflected to tessellate was discovered just

Take and Make: First Versions of Hat Tiles and 21st Century Pattern Block Frames for Hat Tiles

Lauren SiegelMaking Math, Sharing Ideas, Take and Make, We think math is fun!Leave a Comment

Here are the CAD files we have so far.  You should find AI, CorelDraw, SVG and EPS in these folders. We are not finished putting info on the puzzles, etc, so they are “drafts”.  Please help yourself: Hat Tile Frames for Pattern Blocks:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZjuZCc3k03KoHrcOjYicwiu5ZTaVfUB1?usp=sharing Hat Tile puzzle and/or  Print Sheet  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/177BM6RlwbfdT-kX7dUzWYCxD8hpxH34g?usp=sharing Find links to other frames for 21st Century Pattern

Take and Make: Tusi couple for a UT Perspectives Class

Lauren SiegelCommunity Partnerships, Making Math, Mathematical Artifacts, Take and Make, Teacher Support & Training, We think math is fun!Leave a Comment

The Tusi couple is a mathematical device in which a small circle rotates inside a larger circle twice the diameter of the smaller circle.  With this relationship of diameters, each point on the circumference of the smaller circle actually follows a linear path as the rotation occurs. Here’s a link to a video so you can see it in motion. Files to

Take and Make: Shisima Game from Kenya for SE Branch Library

Lauren SiegelEvents, Intern Experience, Library, Mathematical Artifacts, Spanish version, Take and Make, We think math is fun!Leave a Comment

SE Branch library invited us to participate in their event celebrating music from Kenya.  We found a new strategy game two player strategy game called Shisima that is related to tic-tac-toe, that originates from Kenya.  Melissa Wilkinson cut and made the design that Stefany Espinoza created.  Quan Nguyen and Marianne Villanueva brought the game to SE Branch, participated in some drumming and

Take and Make: Trammel Kit

Lauren SiegelMaking Math, Sharing Ideas, Take and Make, Ways to like math, We think math is fun!Leave a Comment

12-28 Update.  We continue to iterate on the Trammel Project.  Dr. Sereveny’s students at Riverbend Community Math Center have updated the files with a larger hole for the pencil/pen and they are working on an adjustable arm so we can make multiple shapes (of Ellipses). And they sent Links to the Hardware screws and filament: Hardware: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XRX2F4Q/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2N32G193BWL7U&psc=1 We use a

Take and Make: Scott Kim Block by Block Jr- SE Branch Library

Lauren SiegelHouston, Library, Making Math, Sharing Ideas, Take and Make, Ways to like math, We think math is fun!Leave a Comment

Whether in 1″ Maple, or 1/2″ pine, or 5″ cardboard, this block set known as Block by Block Jr. designed  by puzzle designer Scott Kim has multiple uses and offers a variety of ways to practice spacial skills, problem solving and just have fun together.   We highly recommend this activity for all ages.   We ordered 1000 block from a

Take and Make: Linkages Pop-up Card

Lauren SiegelCommunity Partnerships, Intern Experience, Library, Making Math, Sharing Ideas, Take and Make, We think math is fun!Leave a Comment

Its a Day of the Dead Celebration at SE Branch Library!  Kids were able to decorate and color a moveable candle.  Staffers Mason Chng and Stefany Espinoza were joined by Jackie Salazar and Branch Manager Irene Magana-Noverola at the SE Branch Library.  Video of the card moving. We cut the cardstock with the laser – a first for us and

Take and Make:Frames for 21st Century Pattern Blocks at Asmbly Makerspace in Austin TX

Lauren SiegelCommunity Partnerships, Making Math, Take and Make, We think math is fun!Leave a Comment

Meet Art Zamora and Johnnie Perales, new partners who will be making 20 sets of frames for 21st Century Pattern Blocks. The blocks and the frames along with other math activities will be going to clubhouses for children who are residents in 18 low income housing complexes across Texas.  Sets of pattern blocks and frames will also go to 4