Events of 2011
- Fermi Math Circle
- Jan 1, 2011 – May 20, 2011
-
During this Math Circle, we are working together to create and
answer a wide range of Fermi Questions. This program is for
students with some knowledge of algebra who have long attention
spans and an interest in engaging in mathematical conversation.
- School City of Mishawaka Consulting and Professional Development
- Jan 1, 2011 – May 31, 2011
-
Working with administrators and teachers, we supported the
implementation of a new math program for high-ability students in
4th through 6th grades at all seven elementary schools. We also
worked with John Young Middle School teachers to examine math
instruction at the middle school level.
- Math and Technology Academy
- Jan 1, 2011 – May 31, 2011
-
The Math and Technology Academy is a free program open to the
public. Students of all ages can get help with homework, work on
a guided independent study project, or try one of our hands-on
math activities.
- South Bend Community School Corporation Consulting and Professional Development
- Jan 1, 2011 – Jun 30, 2011
-
Working with administrators, curriculum leaders,
and teachers, we identified ways to strengthen
math instruction for students at many Title 1
Primary Centers in South Bend.
- Community Research Project
- Jan 2, 2011 – May 20, 2011
-
Each semester, we tackle a community research project and write
up our results. This semester we are building a robot and
creating a computer program in Java which can work together to
solve a Rubik's Cube. Other groups are tackling more advanced
origami or are designing Lego Mindstorm robots.
- SBCSC Career and Technical Education Math Integration
- Jan 4, 2011 – Jun 15, 2011
-
This math class for students from South Bend Community School
Corporation's Culinary Arts and Radio/TV Programs was designed to
strengthen math skills needed to pass tests needed to obtain dual
credit. The class included weekly hands-on activities designed to
show the importance of math in daily life and to improve
conceptual understanding of various math concepts. In addition,
after-school tutoring and mentoring was provided to those
students feeling that they could benefit from extra assistance.
- SIGMAA on Circles Presentations
- Jan 6, 2011 – Jan 9, 2011
-
As an active member of the national SIGMAA on Math Circles, we
participated in several sessions at the Joint Math Meetings in New
Orleans as well as presenting a hands-on activity (rational tangles)
to several groups of potential Math Circle leaders. Approximately
100 people participated in sessions during three different days. We
also co-organized research talks for the Summer Program for Women in
Mathematics reunion during the Joint Math Metings. About 50 people
attended these talks.
- Algebra Acrobats
- Jan 16, 2011 – May 15, 2011
-
Around 30 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students are meeting on a
weekly basis this semester to prepare for the Algebra I End of
Course Assessment (ECA). This test is normally taken by high
school students as a graduation requirement. Led by three
instructors with support from IUSB America Counts students, the
course focuses on a hands-on and conceptual approach to algebra.
- Young Math Circle
- Jan 18, 2011 – Mar 31, 2011
-
During this Math Circle, students spend part of the time tackling
brain teasers and math puzzles in groups and part of the time
working on a mini-project as a group. We are beginning by
investigating several Fermi Questions. This program is for
students with an interest in mathematics.
- St. Pius Origami Night
- Jan 26, 2011
-
Lisa Nyers at St. Pius organized a mathematical origami night for
St. Pius students and parents. We presented a variety of folds
including magic pinwheels, sonobe polyhedra, and PHiZZ modules for
constructing buckyballs.
- Science Olympiad -- Experimental Design
- Feb 5, 2011
-
High school students competing in Science Olympiad design and carry out
experiments to explore factors that would be important when figuring out
how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop
- HASTI Origami Session and Lessons
- Feb 10, 2011
-
During this workshop, we fold several models that illustrate how
origami relates to engineering. Afterwards, conference participants
may stop by the NISMEC booth or the Mathematical Origami workshop at
the Hoosier Association for Science Teachers Conference to learn to
fold magic pinwheels, Sonobe polyhedra, hyperbolic paraboloids,
PHiZZ polyhedra, and other origami structures.
- HASTI Fermi Estimates Presentation
- Feb 11, 2011
-
During this interactive session, we will work through many of the
stages of a Fermi Estimates lab that we have been using with middle
school math and science students in the South Bend / Mishawaka area.
Fermi Estimates are an exciting way for students to investigate
topics of interest to them. Questions that our students have chosen
to investigate include "How many people in the world are talking on
cell phones right now?" "If your hai was never broken or cut from
the time you were born until now, how long would it be?" "How many
gumballs would reach to the moon and back?" "How much energy would
be saved if our city undertook a voluntary one-minute blackout?
Investigating questions of this type inevitably causes students to
grapple with measurement, unit conversions, creating and using
algebraic formulas, creating surveys and experiments, and conducting
research to obtain needed information.
- Wheelock College Presentations and Consulting
- Feb 22, 2011 – Feb 26, 2011
-
Amanda worked with four instructors at Wheelock College who teacher
math to future elementary teachers to share hands-on activities and
to discuss pedagogical strategies for the courses they teach. Amanda
also gave a presentation on fractals and dynamical systems to a
class of students.
- Veritas Academy Math Night
- Mar 16, 2011
-
Working with teachers at Veritas Academy, we organized a math night
for families featuring three activities for lower elementary
students and three activities for upper elementary students. Lower
elementary students played the Sum To 10 Dash, played the Back to
Back game, and made Quilt Fraction designs. Upper elementary
students used Polydrons to explore the face vectors of families of
polyhedra, played an adding strategy game, and made
fraction/decimal/percent grid designs.
- Circle on the Road
- Mar 18, 2011 – Mar 20, 2011
-
We participated in "Circle on the Road", a national Math Circle
conference organized by the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute
in Houston, Texas. The event included a Julia Robinson Mathematics
Festival. Amanda led an activity to figure out how many kernels of
popcorn it would take to fill a classroom. The other two days
featured presentations by Math Circle leaders from around the
country as well as opportunities to network. Amanda served on a
panel about diverse approaches to Math Circles.
- EPaDel Meeting
- Apr 2, 2011
-
Amanda served as an invited speaker during the EPaDel section of the
MAA's spring meeting in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She spoke with
Project NEXT faculty about math outreach possibilities and gave the
concluding invited talk on mathematical origami.
- One Book, One Michiana: Killer Angels
- Apr 13, 2011 – May 7, 2011
-
The St. Joseph County Public Library organized a month of activities
relating to the book Killer Angels about the Civil War. As part of the
festivities, Andrea Vollrath presented an awesome activity about the
physics and math of projectiles at several library branches and community
events.
- Notre Dame Science Class Presentation
- May 3, 2011
-
We engaged 70 Notre Dame freshmen in the "Global Air Conditioners"
activity, during which they estimated the amount of carbon dioxide
absorbed by a tree over its lifetime. Participants learned about the
carbon cycle, a method for indirect measurement of tree heights, and some
basic unit conversion concepts.
- South Bend Community School Corporation Consulting and Professional Development
- May 23, 2011 – Jun 6, 2011
-
During May and June, Leslie Wesley visited several classes at each of
five intermediate centers in South Bend to lead a financial literacy
program.
- Fermi Math Circle
- Jun 2, 2011 – Aug 13, 2011
-
During this weekly Math Circle, we learned about many ways mathematics
is used to model the real world. After participating in mini-modeling
experiences, students chose their own topics and created mathematical
models to investigate them. Topics included modeling how traffic flow
is impacted by stop lights, the relationship between baking soda and
amount of rise in cookies, the impact of social welfare programs on
the economy of Venezuela, stability of trees during storms, pet
ownership, contrasting credit card incentive programs, and the impact
of business tax rates on Indiana's overall tax revenue (business and
income taxes combined). This program was for students with some
knowledge of algebra who have long attention spans and an interest in
engaging in mathematical conversation.
- Math and Technology Academy
- Jun 9, 2011 – Aug 31, 2011
-
The Math and Technology Academy is a free program open to the
public. Students of all ages can get help with homework, work on
a guided independent study project, or try one of our hands-on
math activities.
- South Bend Community School Corporation Consulting and Professional Development
- Jun 15, 2011 – Aug 31, 2011
-
Working with administrators, curriculum leaders, and teachers, we
identified ways to strengthen math instruction for students at many
schools in South Bend. We also led many hands-on math workshops for
primary and intermediate center teachers.
- Notre Dame Research Experience For Teachers
- Jun 20, 2011 – Aug 22, 2011
-
During late June and all of July, we partnered with the University of
Notre Dame to offer a Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program
in mathematical modeling. The overall purpose of the course was to
introduce math teachers to a range of mathematical models, and to
examine modeling requirements in the new Common Core State Standards
for high school mathematics. After exploring a range of types of
mathematical models, teachers worked in groups to create their own
models on a topic of their choice. The course included 20 three-hour
sessions, seven lunch presentations and discussion sessions with
participants from other disciplines, and creating presentations for
the RET@ND Symposium.
- Math Circle Teacher Training Institute
- Jul 10, 2011 – Jul 16, 2011
-
About 25 mathematicians, teachers, and other math enthusiasts from
around the country paticipated in this week-long institute at Notre
Dame led by Bob and Ellen Kaplan with assistance from Amanda
Serenevy and Leo Goldmakher. Participants experienced Math Circles
as students, shared ideas for starting Math Circles, led Math
Circles for children, and delved into a number of engaging
mathematical questions.
- NDeRC Project Learning Tree Environmental Science Math Workshop
- Jul 21, 2011
-
We led a half-day session for K-12 teachers on math connections in
environmental science during a week-long professional development
workshop organized by NDeRC (Notre Dame Extended Research Community).
Activities included the "Global Air Conditioners" activity (exploring the
carbon cycle and calculating the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by a
particular tree over its lifetime), and the "Owls and Voles" activity
(modeling predator-prey interactions between owls and voles).
- SIGMAA on Circles Presentations
- Aug 4, 2011 – Aug 6, 2011
-
As an active member of the national SIGMAA on Math Circles, we
participated in several sessions at Math Fest in Lexington, Kentucky.
Approximately 50 people participated on each of the three days.
- Veritas Academy Consulting and Professional Development
- Aug 15, 2011 – Dec 31, 2011
-
During this semester, we provided math professional development for
Veritas Academy teachers. In August, we presented three half-day
math workshops to introduce the new Common Core Standards and to
share conceptual approaches to a variety of topics. During the
semester, we provided weekly consultations and classroom
demonstrations for K-8 teachers.
- United Way Latino Task Force Consulting
- Aug 23, 2011
-
Amanda Serenevy met with members of the Latino Task Force of the United
Way Education Committee to share details about our outreach programs and
issues relating to math education in our community.
- Art Beat
- Aug 27, 2011
-
Drop by our booth to learn to fold a Sonobe
polyhedron or a Magic Pinwheel.
- SBCSC Career and Technical Education Math Integration
- Aug 30, 2011 – Dec 31, 2011
-
On a weekly basis, we offered math support for students in South
Bend Community School Corporation's Culinary Arts, Radio/TV, and
Building Trades Programs. In addition to helping to strengthen
algebra and other math skills needed by students, we provided
weekly hands-on activities designed to show the importance of
math in daily life and to improve conceptual understanding of
various math concepts. In addition to this work with students, we
also led quarterly full-day professional development workshops
for the instructors of a wide range of Career and Technical
Education courses.
- Math and Technology Academy
- Sep 1, 2011 – Dec 20, 2011
-
The Math and Technology Academy is a free program open to the
public. Students of all ages can get help with homework, work on
a guided independent study project, or try one of our hands-on
math activities.
- South Bend Community School Corporation Consulting and Professional Development
- Sep 1, 2011 – Dec 31, 2011
-
Working with administrators, curriculum leaders, and teachers, we
identified ways to strengthen math instruction for students at many
schools in South Bend. We also led many hands-on math workshops for
primary and intermediate center teachers.
- Veritas Mathletes Program
- Sep 7, 2011 – Dec 31, 2011
-
About 25 3rd through 8th grade students at Veritas Academy met
for an hour after school twice a week with tutors from Riverbend
Community Math Center to work on their math learning goals.
- School City of Mishawaka Consulting and Professional Development
- Sep 8, 2011 – Sep 29, 2011
-
Working with administrators and teachers, we supported the
implementation of a new math program for high-ability students in
4th through 6th grades at all seven elementary schools. We also
worked with John Young Middle School teachers to examine math
instruction at the middle school level.
- Fermi Math Circle
- Sep 9, 2011 – Dec 16, 2011
-
During this Math Circle, we investigated a range of topics including
the orbit stabilizer theorem, the physics of springs and falling
objects, rectangle avoiding grid colorings, Cantorian set theory, and
mathematical proof. We also made our own Doodle Videos in the spirit
of Vi Hart.
- St. Pius Origami Day
- Sep 26, 2011
-
We introduced upper elementary students at St. Pius to mathematical
origami. Students folded Magic Pinwheels and computed the sums of the
angles in polygons.
- Pokagon Band Math Professional Development and Activities
- Sep 30, 2011 – Nov 5, 2011
-
During two professional development session, we explored ways to help
students go beyond memorized procedures to improve their conceptual
understanding. The workshop included hands-on activities supporting the
development of number sense and the transition to algebraic thinking. We
also brought hands-on activities for two Pokagon Band STEM family days.
Activities included Chladni plates, quilt fractions, and origami
polyhedra.
- Celebrate Hoosier Science Festival
- Oct 8, 2011
-
Working with Jay Brockman, Micha Kilburn, and other faculty from Notre
Dame, we participated in the Celebrate Hoosier Science Festival at the
Indianapolis State Fairground. We brought two hands-on activities:
Lissajous Sand Pendula and Chladni Plates. In both of these activities
students explored the sand designs corresponding to different frequencies
and amplitudes. Students used a Matlab module to control trigonometric
models of a Lissajous Sand Pendulum, and attempted to match the real
pendulum as accurately as possible.
- East Lansing Math Circle Visit
- Oct 14, 2011 – Oct 15, 2011
-
Working with Ashley Ahlin, the founder of the East Lansing Math Circle,
we trained 16 undergraduate students as station leaders for an upcoming
Julia Robinson Festival. Station topics included Racing Dice, Owls and
Voles, the Candy Sharing Game, Nim Games, Modular Arithmetic, Mobius
Bands and Loop Shapes, SET, Ken-Ken, Constructing Polyhedra, and Rush
Hour. On Saturday, Amanda led a hands-on investigation of the Fermi
Question "What would it take to fill this room with popcorn" for a Math
Circle consisting of 30 elementary students and their parents. Ashley and
Amanda also met to discuss plans for expanding the East Lansing Math
Circle.
- Notre Dame Edison School Days
- Oct 18, 2011 – Oct 19, 2011
-
As part of Notre Dame University's annual Edison School campus visit
days, Riverbend instructor David Stair led a proportional reasoning
activity involving becoming entrepreneurs of a trail mix company.
