Workshop in a Circle 2010

hosted by the

Brazos Valley Math Teachers' Circle

and the

Department of Mathematics

Texas A&M University

 6 hours Continuing Professional Education Credits will be given.
 CPE Provider #501137

Location:

Texas A&M University, Blocker Building, Room 624

Map (JPG Print Landscape)
Map (PDF Print Portrait)

Date and Time:

Wednedsay, June 9, 2010

Agenda:

• 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
  • Topic: Welcome to the Math Teachers' Circle
  • Speaker: Dr. Philip Yasskin, Texas A&M University
  • Abstract: Introductions, the Math Circle Salute, 2 card tricks and the King Arthur Problem.
• 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
  • Topic: Popping Fresh Fractions
  • Speaker: Virginia Woods, INQUIRE Math, Jane Long Middle School, Bryan ISD
  • Abstract: Students will discover division of fractions using concrete objects and will progress to discover the mathematical process of dividing fractions.
    TEKS Addresed:
    7.2(A) The student is expected to represent multiplication and division situations involving factions and decimals with models, including concrete objects, pictures, words, and numbers.
    (B) use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to solve problems involving fractions and decimals;
    (C) use models, such as concrete objects, pictorial models, and number lines, to add, subtract, multiply, and divide integers and connect the actions to algorithms.
• 10:15 AM - 11:30 AM
  • Topic: Eleusis (and Refreshments)
  • Speaker: Drs. Philip Yasskin and Janice Epstein, Texas A&M University
  • Abstract: Eleusis is a pattern recognition game which models inductive scientific research and the "Aha" moment. It was originally created by Robert Abbott in 1956, improved by Martin Kruskal and Abbott between 1962 and 1973 and described in Martin Gardner's Mathematical Games column in Scientific American in the June 1959 and October 1977. A shortened version, called Eleusis Express, was developed by John Golden in 2006. We will learn and play the game. Refreshments will be served during the game.
• 11:30 AM - 12:00 Noon
  • Topic: Modular Arithmetic Card Tricks
  • Speaker: Dr. Sherry Scarborough, Texas A&M University
  • Abstract: Card tricks which involve algebra and modular arithmetic.
• 12:00 Noon - 12:30 PM
  • LUNCH
  • BBQ from J. Cody's
• 12:30 PM - 12:45 PM
  • Topic: King Arthur Problem
  • Speaker: Dr. Philip Yasskin, Texas A&M University
  • Abstract: King Arthur's daughter, Glissanda, is ready to get married. She loves mathematics. Which Knight of the Round Table should she marry?
• 12:45 PM - 1:15 PM
  • Topic: Frog Jumping Problem
  • Speaker: Caroline Hermann, A&M Consolidated High School, College Station ISD
  • Abstract: Three green frogs and three brown frog are in a row with one space in the middle. How can the green and brown frogs exchange places by single steps and single jumps?
• 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
  • Topic: Towers of Hanoi
  • Speaker: Dr. Michael Anshelevich, Texas A&M University
  • Abstract: A stack of different size disks are on one of three posts in descending size. How can you move them to another post, one disk at a time, so they end up in descending size, but no two disks are ever in ascending order?
• 2:00 PM - 2:15 PM
  • BREAK
• 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
  • Topic: Platonic Solids
  • Speaker: Drs. Philip Yasskin and Margaret Upton, Texas A&M University
  • Abstract: Students will investigate regular solids and their generalizations using a construction set called Polydrons. They will prove there are only 5 regular solids, called the Platonic solids: tetrahedron, cube, octahedron, dodecahedron and icosahedron.
• 3:15 AM - 4:00 AM
  • Topic: Zome System Activities
  • Speaker: Caroline Hermann and Jamie Bassett, A&M Consolidated High School, College Station ISD
  • Abstract: Students will investigate regular solids and their generalizations using a construction set called Zomes.

We would like to thank:

• The Department of Mathematics, Texas A&M University
  For financial support for meals at our meetings and hosting our website.
• The American Institute of Mathematics
  For supporting the national Math Teachers' Circle Network and the ``How to run a Math Teachers' Circle'' workshops.

2010 Organizing Committee:

© Philip B. Yasskin, 2008-10.
Last updated June 5, 2010