One of my favorite parts of Math On-A-Stick is that it creates opportunities for positive conversations about math with adults. Ask any math teacher, and they'll confirm that when meeting a new person and revealing the work that they do, there is a high probability...
At Math On-A-Stick, we have a puzzle table for the youngest fairgoers. The table is low to the ground, near an entrance to the space, and filled with colorful, chunky shapes—durable and sized for chunky toddler hands. Here are three typical states of the puzzle...
I wrote last week about the release of 21st Century Pattern Blocks on a much larger scale than before. This week, I want to share five fun math adventures that begin with these blocks. 1.Scaling Which 21st Century Pattern Blocks can you use (any number of)...
After seeing Hana Murray's lovely study of rectangles made from 21st Century Pattern Blocks, I started playing and noticed that many of them seemed to involve the small green triangles. Pretty soon, I had formed a conjecture. Using copies of these at least two...
I am very excited to let folks know that Dan Finkel of Math for Love has scaled up 21st Century Pattern Blocks production and availability. They've been available here on this site for a few years now. At first I was making them on a maker-space laser cutter, then...
I was invited recently to give a talk to Reach Out and Read Minnesota, a lovely organization that supports early literacy development by connecting with children and caregivers in medical offices. They are beginning to explore similar work for early math...
I am thrilled to offer you a quick tour of the TMF (the Turtle Manufacturing Facility). Let's start outside, near a bustling street corner here in Saint Paul, Minnesota. In the street-level windows, we have a small Public Math project. We have rendered a scaled-up...
If you have children in your life who are between the ages of four and ten, you need a Pattern Machine. I'm going to tell you what a Pattern Machine is, and then tell you why you need one (or more). What Is a Pattern Machine? A Pattern Machine starts out as a...