Month:

What Can You Measure in Bamboo Plants?

• September 9

Dr. Glen Whitney, founder of the National Museum of Mathematics in New York and walkSTEM advisor, wonders what we can measure in the bamboo plants located at the entry to the Nasher Sculpture Center. Suggestions include length of nodes, distance between leaves, circumference of stalks, and more. Dr. Whitney then explores the possibility of a mathematical relationship between some of these measurements and age of the bamboo. How would we figure out if there was a relationship and also what type o... CONTINUE READING

How do you use scale to read a map?

• September 9

Join Dr. Glen Whitney, Founder of the National Museum of Mathematics, as you discover how to use a map and found objects to determine the scale of the map. You can try this strategy with any map! 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

What’s the biggest store?

• September 9

Join Dr. Glen Whitney, Founder of the National Museum of Mathematics, as you discover how to best estimate which store is largest, given a map. 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

What’s the farthest distance between 2 points on the map?

• September 9

Does it ever seem like you parked at a store that is farthest away from the store you want? Join Dr. Glen Whitney, Founder of the National Museum of Mathematics, as you discover how to determine what the farthest points are within 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:... CONTINUE READING

What’s the Scale?

• September 9

The giant mosaic North Texas Sunrise depicts many native texan flowers, all far larger than life. Using a standard 8.5" x 11" sheet paper as a measuring device, we calculate how much larger the mosaic flowers are than the real thing, determining the scale of the artwork. This video was supported by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs. Supplementary Activity Guides for this video to extend student learning for K-12 grade levels are freely available here:... CONTINUE READING

What Mathematical Differences Do We See?

• September 9

The four individual works that make up Campanile Window have a similar-looking structure to each other, but are not identical. Methods of quantifying some of their differences mathematically are discussed, analyzing color, lines, and interior shapes. This video was supported by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs. Supplementary Activity Guides for this video to extend student learning for K-12 grade levels are freely available here:... CONTINUE READING

How Do You Measure Pitch and How is it Helpful?

• September 9

Dr. Glen Whitney, founder of the National Museum of Mathematics in New York and walkSTEM advisor, notices the two systems of ramps that lead into the Wyly Theater Center at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. He takes some quick measurements to figure out the slope, gradient or pitch of each of the two ramps, and then discusses how mathematics keeps us safe. Supplementary Activity Guides for this video to extend student learning for K-12 grade levels are freely available here:... CONTINUE READING

How does the artist represent infinity?

• September 9

This video is part 3 of 3 videos visiting the artwork, This Land is Your Land in NorthPark Center. What is infinity? How did the artists create infinity for the viewer? Join Dr. Glen Whitney, Founder of the National Museum of Mathematics, as you discover how the artist created the sense of infinity in the piece, This Land Is Your Land, in NorthPark Center. Can you see other examples of infinity around you? This video was supported by NorthPark Center. Supplementary Activity Guides for this video... CONTINUE READING

How can a mirror help you play with symmetry?- This Land Is Your Land

• September 9

This video is part 2 of 3 videos visiting the artwork, This Land is Your Land in NorthPark Center. Mirrors can create fun optical illusions if positioned in specific ways. Join Dr. Glen Whitney, Founder of the National Museum of Mathematics, as you discover how to use a mirror to play with symmetry, and see how the artist used this in This Land Is Your Land. This video was supported by NorthPark Center. Supplementary Activity Guides for this video to extend student learning for K-12 grade levels... CONTINUE READING

How long is the spiral?

• September 9

A high school student at Hockaday School created a campus STEM walk for elementary students to enjoy. In this walk stop she explores a spiral artwork on campus and invites children to estimate the length of the spiral using their math detective skills.... CONTINUE READING