This workshop took place virtually.
Professional development credit certificates and stipends were offered for this workshop. If you have questions reach out to us at navajomath@gmail.com or 785 473 0273 (call or text).
Funding for this workshop was provided by MIT.
The workshop featured mathematical activities/explorations led by Daniel Alvarez-Gavela, Dave Auckly, and Gabriella Pinter.
Full session videos are posted below.
Schedule
(All times valid for Crownpoint, NM.)
9:00 Welcome.
9:15 – 10:30 (Dave Auckly) Math Circle Session 1
Title: Monster Party!
10:30 – 10:50 Introductions/Discussion
10:50 – 12:05 (Dani Alvarez-Gavela) Math Circle Session 2
Title: Light in a teacup
12:05 – 12:30 Sanity Break
12:30 – 1:45 (Gabriella Pinter) Math Circle Session 3
Title: Let’s build a tower!
1:45 – Whenever math circle discussion/suggested resources
Sessions
Monster Party!
The monsters want to play in the yard of a space alien. The alien does not want the monsters.
When the alien sees a monster, he stomps. Monsters hear and come up under his foot. When two are together, they go party. Can the alien get rid of the monsters?
Monster Stomp:
Monster Stomp Instructions
Stomp Puzzle Print-outs:
Initial configuration for T-tetra4x4
Blank Board and Foot forT-tetra4x4
Initial Configuration for L-tri4x4L-tri4x4
Blank board and foot for L-tri4x4
Initial Configuration for L-tetra4x4init
Blank board and foot for L-tetra4x4
Initial Configuration for dom34init
Blank board and foot for dom-34
Initial configuration for 1x3tri3x10
Blank board and foot for 1x3tri3x10
Pattern for coloring argument:
Where one peg ends after herding.
Vector-graphs file:
SVG file download
The SVG file may be opened and used with the following free program:
Inkscape Download
Light in a teacup:
Shine a point light source (like a phone flashlight) into a matte cup or mug.
Do you see a heart shape appear? The outline of this shape is a curve which
has a “cusp”. We call it a caustic of the wavefront. Our goal will be to
understand this phenomenon in simple terms. Then we will see how there is a
fun game to play in drawing pictures to illustrate caustics.
Let’s build a tower!
In this activity our challenge will be to collect cups and build a tower.
We will generate questions and try to answer as many as we can.
Connecting to the Virtual Meeting
We will open the meeting 15 minutes before the official start. If you have trouble connecting you may call (785) 473-0273 and we will help as we can.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://ksu.zoom.us/j/91404514920
Meeting ID: 914 0451 4920