Month:

What is Symmetry? – Turtle Pond

  • September 9

Can you find symmetry at a Turtle Pond? Join Dr. Glen Whitney, Founder of the National Museum of Mathematics, as you discover the hidden symmetry found all around you at NorthPark Center's Turtle Pond. What symmetry do you notice around you? This video was supported by NorthPark Center. Supplementary Activity Guides for this video to extend student learning for K-12 grade levels are freely available here: htt... CONTINUE READING

What shapes are in turtles and other living things? – Turtle Pond

  • September 9

Do you know why turtles' shells are shaped the way they are? What about the pattern on the shell? Join Dr. Glen Whitney, Founder of the National Museum of Mathematics, as you discover different shapes found in turtles at NorthPark Center and other living things. This video was supported by NorthPark Center. Supplementary Activity Guides for this video to extend student learning for K-12 grade levels are freely available here:... CONTINUE READING

How do the Hammering Men move?

  • September 9

How did the artist create movement in this sculpture? Join Dr. Glen Whitney, Founder of the National Museum of Mathematics, as you discover the power of 4 bar linkages, and how they enable the arms of the Hammering Men to move. This video was supported by NorthPark Center. Supplementary Activity Guides for this video to extend student learning for K-12 grade levels are freely available here: https://talkstem.... CONTINUE READING

How do gears create movement?

  • September 9

Why are gears used? What do they do? Join Dr. Glen Whitney, Founder of the National Museum of Mathematics, as you discover the power of using gears, and how they help the sculpture, Hammering Men, in NorthPark Center. This video was supported by NorthPark Center. Supplementary Activity Guides for this video to extend student learning for K-12 grade levels are freely available here: https://talkstem.org/talks... CONTINUE READING

What’s the Mathematical Mystery Here? Fountain

  • September 9

Join Dr. Glen Whitney, Founder of the National Museum of Mathematics, as you discover the mystery hidden in a seemingly regular fountain at NorthPark Center. This video was supported by NorthPark Center. Supplementary Activity Guides for this video to extend student learning for K-12 grade levels are freely available here: https://talkstem.org/talkstem-activity-guides/... CONTINUE READING

How symmetrical is a Buckyball?

  • September 9

Join Dr. Glen Whitney, Founder of the National Museum of Mathematics, as you discover the most symmetrical object at NorthPark Center- the Buckyball! Learn how to determine how symmetrical a shape is, and what makes the Buckyball so special. This video was supported by NorthPark Center. Supplementary Activity Guides for this video to extend student learning for K-12 grade levels are freely available here: htt... CONTINUE READING

How tall are the flagpoles?

  • September 9

Towering over Dallas City Hall Plaza are 3 flag poles. How do we use similar triangles and shadows to determine their height? This video was supported by City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs.... CONTINUE READING

What is the speed of the water?

  • September 9

Ronald Kirk Bridge is a pedestrian bridge over the Trinity River in Dallas, connecting downtown Dallas and West Dallas. It is over 2,000 feet long and 60 feet wide. At the Ronald Kirk Bridge, the talkSTEM team found a natural whirlpool in the Trinity River. The video explores a strategy for estimating the speed of water. What other strategies could you use to measure the speed of a liquid? What about objects traveling through air instead of water? At talkSTEM, we know that math isn't always perf... CONTINUE READING

What is the weight of an ice rink?

  • September 9

Ronald Kirk Bridge is a pedestrian bridge over the Trinity River in Dallas, connecting downtown Dallas and West Dallas. It is over 2,000 feet long and 60 feet wide. What would happen if water froze on the middle of the Ron Kirk Bridge? Could we create an ice rink on this bridge? talkSTEM members explore this question and estimate how much weight an ice rink would add to the bridge.... CONTINUE READING

What is a dodecahedron?

  • September 9

Ronald Kirk Bridge is a pedestrian bridge over the Trinity River in Dallas, connecting downtown Dallas and West Dallas. It is over 2,000 feet long and 60 feet wide. At Ronald Kirk Bridge there is a great climbing structure at their playground. We noticed something interesting about the shape of the climbing structure. What exactly is that repeated shape on the playground, and why did they use that one instead of a cube or sphere? It's your turn! If you designed your own playground, what shape cl... CONTINUE READING