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

Partnerships: JRMF and Breakthrough Central Texas

Lauren SiegelCommunity Partnerships, Sharing Ideas, Sponsoring Mathematics Projects, Teacher Support & Training, We think math is fun!Leave a Comment

A benefit to collaboration is the sharing of success.  As a provider of supplementary mathematics learning experiences, we have been in contact with Breakthrough Central Texas, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary for many years.  This past year we were able to connect them with Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival Director Daniel Kline who provided opportunities for staff training and previews of

Maker Math for Educators–Article Published!

Lauren SiegelMedia, Sharing Ideas, Teacher Support & Training, We think math is fun!Leave a Comment

Congratulations to Jason Harron, professor at Kennesaw State University and colleagues for publishing a paper based on an inservice teacher workshop called Maker Math: Exploring Mathematics through Digitally Fabricated Tools with K–12 In-Service Teachers. MathHappens Foundation provided many but not all of the models used in the workshop and discussed in the article and we really appreciate the author credit.  Jason is

An Interactive Cross Disciplinary Mathematics Museum for Austin!

Lauren SiegelCommunity Partnerships, Museum, Teacher Support & Training, Ways to like math, We think math is fun!3 Comments

Let’s continue the tradition of service to education, support our students and learners of all ages in mathematics by offering  free learning resources to the Austin community, support cross disciplinary programs, create and use hands on interactive models. A great opportunity is on the table. The Pease School opened in 1876 and served Austin as an elementary school for 144

Crafting Conic Sections with MTCA – Dec. 2 Math Teacher’s Circle of Austin

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

Teachers enjoy models and making and they take that enthusiasm and activity back to their students.  Hosted by Professor Jennifer Austin of University of Texas at Austin, this was a particularly fun meeting.  We discussed how we make these models – see MAA Horizon Do the Math Article , tried using paper templates and slicing into playdoh.  See Take and

Take and Make: Homeschool Day at the Austin Zoo 2021

Lauren SiegelMaking Math, Take and Make, Teacher Support & Training, We think math is fun!Leave a Comment

Happy Homeschool Day at the Austin Zoo! It’s going to be 80 degrees and sunny, a great day for learning outdoors.  We will be there featuring our geometry kits.  But we are bringing other great projects too with examples with instructions.  The event is preregister only, but you can make these great math projects anytime. Template Folder Here.   Beside to

Take and Make: Napier’s Bones Calculator

Paola GarciaCommunity Partnerships, History Connections, Library, Making Math, Math at Home, Mathematical Artifacts, Take and Make, Teacher Support & Training1 Comment

Napier’s Bones are a manually operated calculator created by John Napier in 1612. This calculator is based on Lattice Multiplication and helps math learners with multiplying large numbers by a single digit number.  Math learners! Start identifying multiplication patterns by making your own set of Napier’s Bones! Materials: Napier’s Bones Paper Template: https://tinyurl.com/rh5xdajt Writing utensil (pencil or pen) Popsicle sticks

UTeach Conference 2021 – Leveling the Playing Field: Creating Equity in Mathematics

Josephine ShengConference Presentations, History Connections, Making Math, Sharing Ideas, Teacher Support & Training, We think math is fun!Leave a Comment

MathHappens had the opportunity to present at the 2021 UTeach STEM Educators Conference. The theme for this year was Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in STEM Education. Paola and Josephine led our session on “Leveling the Playing Field: Creating Equity in Mathematics.” Below are some images of our slides. If you would like to view our entire presentation, here are our

New audience. Old artifacts.

J JCommunity Partnerships, Field Trips, Mathematical Artifacts, Museum, Teacher Support & TrainingLeave a Comment

If you are a fan of museums, then you have seen something like this object before… probably dozens of times.  This impressive artifact is a nocturnal from La Belle and it can be used to tell time at night by the positions of the stars. As historic artifacts and symbols of exploration and discovery, navigation tools like this one spark

Take and Make: Making a Pool Test Apparatus

Lauren SiegelMaking Math, Sharing Ideas, Take and Make, Teacher Support & Training, Ways to like math, We think math is fun!, Zoom FriendlyLeave a Comment

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