Month:

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

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 are Color Equations?

• September 9

Join Dr. Glen Whitney, Founder of the National Museum of Mathematics, on a math walk. As you walk throughout NorthPark Center, you may notice a pattern of artwork that reoccurs. There are several panels that appear like addition equations with color. Can you add colors like numbers? Dr.Glen Whitney explores the concept of adding colors using a color wheel. On a color wheel, you can calculate the angle bisector of two colors to find the resulting color if the two were mixed. We discuss how there... CONTINUE READING

How does geometry relate to the Campanile Windows?

• September 9

The stained glass of Campanile Window, by Octavio Medellin, contains irregular quadrilaterals – four-sided shapes with sides of different lengths – interspersed with lines and triangles in varying angles. In combination, all these lines create a sort of linear perspective, mimicking the way images shrink and converge as they recede from a viewer. Despite being made of flat, static glass, those design elements give the piece a clever way to convey a sense of energy and motion that matches wel... CONTINUE READING

What’s the Most Symmetrical Solid?

• September 9

Dr. Glen Whitney, founder of the National Museum of Mathematics in New York and walkSTEM advisor speaks to us from Klyde Warren Park where he notices interesting things about the fun climbing structure in the Children’s playground and also the shape of the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in the distance. He makes connections between his observations and Platonic solids and also answers the question: What’s the Most Symmetrical Solid in the Dallas Arts District? Supplementary Activity Guid... CONTINUE READING

What is Symmetry Doing for Us?

• September 9

Dr. Glen Whitney, founder of the National Museum of Mathematics in New York and walkSTEM advisor admires the dome shaped ceiling in Dallas Hall. He notices the symmetries in the design of the rotunda and finds a linear relationship between symmetry and decorative items. This is a great example of a beautiful design produced through the use of a variety of different kinds of symmetries. A supplementary activity guide is available for this video, thanks to participation by faculty and students at... CONTINUE READING

How did Calatrava Build this Sculpture?

• September 9

Dr. Glen Whitney, founder of the National Museum of Mathematics in New York and walkSTEM advisor admires the stunning and dynamic Wave sculpture created by renowned artist Santiago Calatrava. He asks and answers three questions about this artwork: Is it straight or is it curved? Is it symmetric? How did Calatrava build this sculpture?... CONTINUE READING

How Symmetrical Is It?

• September 9

Dr. Glen Whitney, founder of the National Museum of Mathematics in New York and walkSTEM advisor discusses different kinds of symmetry you can experience in this place including rotational and mirror symmetry.... CONTINUE READING

What is Symmetry?

• September 9

Symmetry describes the properties possessed by some shapes and objects that allows them to look similar when flipped, turned, or shifted. We take a look around the Dallas Public Library to find instances of symmetry in the designs around us.... CONTINUE READING

Where Can We See Symmetry in this Airplane?

• September 9

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first Black military aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps, a precursor of the U.S. Air Force. They flew more than 15,000 individual sorties in Europe and North Africa during World War II. Their performance earned them more than 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and helped encourage the eventual integration of the U.S. armed forces. In this video we explore the symmetries we can observe as we explore a model of the airplane these heroes flew. Supplementary Activity Gui... CONTINUE READING