Here is a page listing the Numbers in Navajo
Border dots and bisecting a square
This activity began by showing the students how to construct the perpendicular bisector to a segment using a straight edge and compass. It was pointed out that the resulting cross is featured in many places in Dine culture, such as sand painting. From here students constructed squares. They then bisected each square parallel to each edge, and then repeated the process to achieve a 4 x 4 grid of squares. From here the students added the diagonals to all of the squares in the grid, and decorated the resulting diagram.
Counterfeit coins
Students considered the problems on the following hand-out. Balance scales with different weights were available to make the conversation more specific. Weighings handout
Braids and tangles
The students were given a braid puzzle that corresponds to a sheep language Braids and the language of sheep. After exploring this puzzle, students looked at tangles of rope.
Rational Tangles
Counting Challenges
Students were challenged to count a number of different collections of things. Counting handout
Math Blocks
Students saw that it was easier to count blocks in an array, than in a random pile. They learned a trick to multiply certain two digit numbers and discovered an easier way to total all of the numbers in the addition table and then all of the numbers in a multiplication table. blocks handout
Also see the blocks guide.
Geometry
Students explored a number of questions related to angles and area.
See the Geometry handout.
Math Games
Students explored a number of mathematical games. Games
Math Wrangle
Read NNMC wrangle rules, and the Week-1 wrangle problems.
Zome
In this session, the students built several 2D and 3D shapes using a zome kit. They considered the sums of the internal angles in a regular n-gon, and how many of these could fit around one corner, to understand why there are exactly 5 Platonic solids. Zome Session handout
Flying Triangles
In this session, students first made different shapes using mirrors and looked at the reflections. Certain triangular configurations of mirrors led to infinite arrays of triangular images. The students then drew the resulting pattern using sidewalk chalk and/or markers. Once the students had such a pattern, they investigated how they could move from one triangle to another by a sequence of rotations and how they could generated loops by sequences of rotations.
Plumbing Geometry
This sessions invited students to make geometric shapes using PVC pipes and fittings. The students then investigated concepts such as the genus, Euler characteristic, and curvature.
Instant Insanity
Students explored an old four cubes puzzle called Instant Insanity. Here is a handout that describes the solution method Instant Insanity handout.
Here is an alternate handout, that tries to help participants discover the solution method
Instant Insanity DA version.
It is not difficult to make a classroom set of instant insanity cubes. The following is a template
that may be printed on a full sized mailing label to fold around wooden cubes. (The specific supplies are listed in the template.)
CubeStickers
Cube Slicing
What are the possible shapes of slices of a cube made with one straight cut? See the cube slice handout
Clear plastic food presentation cubes work nicely with this activity. One model may be found at
Visions cubes.
Flavius Joseph problem
We investigated this problem. During the Jewish-Roman war, Flavius was among a band of 41 Jewish rebels trapped in a cave by the Romans. Preferring suicide to capture, the rebels decided to form a circle and to kill every third remaining person until no one was left. Can you figure out the last rebel standing? What happens if you change the numbers?
Presentation – Ty Fierce Metteba
See the Metteba Presentation Slides.
Math Wrangle 2
See the Wrangle Week 2 Problems,
and check out the
Wrangle Answers
Other Activities
See the scavenger hunt and the
Clan Chart.
Go back to the main page for the 2023 camp here.