A little background…

Why is math fun? Because it’s everywhere around you! Mathematics focuses on the study of the number of things, how things are built, how things are placed in the world next to each other, and how things change. The word “mathematics” means “science, knowledge, learning or fond of learning.”

Regular math is found nearly every place on earth. Math is used for such things as keeping track of money, measuring how big or small a piece of land might be, or in trying to guess when something may happen in the sky, like how far a comet is from the earth, and how close it might pass. Math is exploring the world around you and discovering and writing down patterns you uncover, and a mathematician records these ptters without really thinking how it might be important some day!

This activity is going to focus on the mathematics of geometry!! The great thing about geometry, like regular old math, is that it is all around us! Geometry is found in the architecture of buildings as well as everyday objects, shapes and designs – LARGE and small! So look around you!!!

WAIT…before we get started “let’s flex your brain” to get the juices flowing!! Let’s play a game called the “Towers of Hanoi.” Click this web address: http://www.mazeworks.com/hanoi This is a game in building and thinking, just like geometry – and YES it’s a puzzle!!

To Do:
Start with only 3 discs. Play 3-5 times at this level and see if you can improve your time. Then move to 5 discs and play 3-5 times and see if you can improve your time again! OK, STOP! You can play again later if you want to, but we need to move on now…so much to see and do…