We were happy to have a submission to the NY Times accepted for publication. We wrote some directions for making a Sonobe cube and if you make 27, you can make the parts of a Soma made some graphics files, but the editorial team makes it all look beautiful. Also the photographer is pretty amazing!
Making a Pool Test Apparatus
You don’t need robots and computers, just a system and apparatus to organize the steps! This model is based on the results alluded too but not completely explained by an Israeli company in the recent NY Times article by David Halbfinger on creative pool testing options. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/21/health/fast-coronavirus-testing-israel.html Trying to come up with one of these is a great activity for
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Take and Make: Parallel Ruler and Compass Rose
In 2019, we brought our suite of Navigation Math to New York to share how we relate math to Texas History and the voyage of La Belle which is on exhibit at the Texas State History Museum. Files to make our version of the Parallel Ruler are here. Files to make our version of the Compass Rose are here. Participants
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Webinar: Making the Most of Math Connections at your Museum or Historical Site
Elizabeth Lay, Claire Steffen and I had the opportunity to present a webinar through the Texas Historical Commission today. We discussed ways that museums can enhance visitor experiences with math, showed a variety of examples of math activities at museum locations and talked about our process in developing connected activities. Our Presentation Slides are here The Handout Recording Hosted by
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Take and Make: Sum of Squares of Odd Numbers – Freese Transformation
This Geometric Transformation shows how the sum of the first 6 Odd Squares is the square of 6, or 36. Its the classic “proof without words”. Freese’s Transformation also shows this relationship, but his “squares” all have sides sqrt 1, sqrt 3, sqrt 5, and so on. Freese Corel File, Adobe Illustrator File, Jpg printable
Take and Make: Experimental Mathematics Cucumber Edition
Here’s a fun one! Inspired by a conversation with Chris Daniels of Public Math. He said roll paper around a cylinder and cut on an angle to get an ellipse and produce a sine wave. So we did! And you can too. Then you can make a roller from ellipses, reflect your sine curve and roll the elliptical roller along
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Take and Make files are spreading! Fantastic!
It is very exciting to see our files being used and the great results! Gotta love the math and maker communities on twitter! Thank you @MathHappensOrg https://t.co/yJ63LBiqJp — Ralph Pantozzi (@mathillustrated) March 13, 2020
Awesome Math Making Ideas from Other People – Napiers Bones
Here’s an excerpt of a twitter conversation. Day before yesterday Aida wrote to get access to some of our files and ideas. Yesterday she made this amazing version of Napiers Bones that is in the National Archeological Museum in Madrid. Today I’m inspired by her project and want to know more about this version and I want to see that
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Women in Steam at the Thinkery
Women in Mathematics! Katherine Johnson calculated trajectories, parabolic and otherwise for NASA in the 1960s. Almost 70 years earlier Mary Boole invented curve stitching to teach the mathematical properties of parabolas to children. We made some really great foldable parabolas to connect to the work of both these women in math. Here’s the laser file – we cut the holes
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MathHappens in Nature
We have officially launched our new weekly program at the Austin Nature and Science Center! This program will go from 10am-2pm every Saturday so checkout our Facebook for more information. The room will have rotating puzzles and activities, a shelf full of books for various ages, and something you can make and take home with you! Don’t miss out because
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