Field Trips
"Where there's history, invention, chance, curiosity and purpose... there's a compelling math connection."
MathHappens develops custom field trip programs that connect mathematics to history, science, and culture. Each trip is designed to give students hands-on experiences that make math relevant and memorable — in museums, archives, and nature centers.
Below are a few examples of field trips we’ve created. Each one is tailored to its setting and audience to show how mathematical thinking can enhance any learning adventure.
If you’re an educator looking to add more math to your next field trip, or a museum/organization interested in developing a math-connected experience, we’d love to collaborate. Contact us to start planning together!
The Mathematics of Navigation
at the Bullock Texas History Museum
Students explore the tools and math behind 17th-century navigation through the story of La Belle, a ship from La Salle’s 1685 expedition. Activities include using a quadrant, nocturnal, and Mercator maps – and building their own mini parallel rulers to take home.
Lewis Carroll and the Math of Imagination
at the Harry Ransom Center
At this University of Texas archive, students experience the connection between literature and mathematics through Lewis Carroll’s writings and mathematical puzzles. With original documents, creative problem-solving, and a peek into archival work, this field trip turns math into a story worth exploring.
Math in Nature
at the Austin Nature and Science Center
From spirals and proportions to fractals and Fibonacci sequences, this field trip reveals how math shapes the natural world. Students measure, explore patterns, and build models that show how math appears in trees, shells, and even storms.
