Take and Make: Hinged Parabola Stretcher

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

Super simple and yet kind of cool.  You need a machine screw, a wing nut, some scrap wood about 4″x.5″,  and some stretchy elastic.  We cut ours on a Helix laser cutter.  Directions and Files Here.  Check the video on Twitter to see how it moves. Article from American Mathematical Association here. Also if you don’t want to make from

Mini Unit Circle Twitter Storm!

Lauren SiegelConference Presentations, Making MathLeave a Comment

I sent a mini unit circle to Dr. Alex Kontorovich, and he posted a short video.  Previously I posted a video on this and Ralph Pantozzi retweeted and we got 10,000 views till I accidentally deleted the post. This time Dr. Kontorvich’s followers really grabbed it and it went around the globe and in less than 3 days had over

Take and Make – Quadrants for 8th Graders

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

We are always excited when makers and maker spaces make our math models!  Patrick Benfield outfitted some 8th graders with Quadrants (or Clinometers) and put this post on Instagram (click on photo below).  Be sure to scroll through and also check out Patrick’s other work.  You can find the files to make this here. View this post on Instagram Making

Take and Make: Number Slider

Lauren SiegelMaking Math, Take and MakeLeave a Comment

This is a great project.  Viyang Shah shows how you can expand from just adding and subtracting.  Here are the files – Corel Version 17, Adobe Illustrated, and an SVG!  Please let us know if you have trouble with access.  Happy Making! First version by Paola Garcia.  Improvements and Cuisenairre adaptations based on suggestions from Jo Boalers facebook group YouCube

Take and Make: Mirror Book

Michelle TatMaking Math, Take and Make1 Comment

Mirror Book Files  Make all the regular polygons using just this “book” and a straight line on paper. You can also make stars and intricate symmetrical designs using objects or pictures drawn on paper. Simply laser etch the wooden and acrylic pieces, hinge the two wooden pieces together with Gaffer Tape, and glue the acrylic mirrors to the inside of your

Take and Make: Sierpinski Triangles

Josephine ShengMaking Math, Take and MakeLeave a Comment

Previously we shared a Take and Make blog on Koch Fractals. We have another fractal shape for you called the Sierpinski triangle!  It has the overall structure of an equilateral triangle. This would be a good challenge for someone learning to use geometry software whether its design like Corel Draw or math like Geogebra.  We are using midpoints and we

Take and Make: Packing Cubes

Michelle TatMaking Math, Take and Make2 Comments

  If you have a Makerspace and are looking for something fun to make, we have an idea for you. The packing cube is a really cool and interesting puzzle. You just need to etch the cardboard folds and fold into pyramids. It’s surprising how the pyramids can all fit inside the cube. It’s a good challenge to figure out how

Take and Make: Mathematical Origami

Lauren SiegelMaking Math, Take and Make, Ways to like math, We think math is fun!2 Comments

I want the files now! We attended the MOVES Conference at the Museum of Mathematics in New York this summer.  Main topic?  Mathematical Origami.  There is a lot going on with capabilities to weaken materials and facilitate folding with lasers and other precision devices.  Robert Lang and Eric Demaine are both experts and innovators in this area and they spoke