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/


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What’s My Question (Introduction)

What’s My Question (Introduction)? Varied locations

What’s My Question – Geometric Shapes & Transformations

What’s My Question? Exploring Geometric Shapes & Transformations at the Frontiers of Flight Museum

What’s My Question – Math Patterns

What’s My Question? Exploring Mathematical Patterns at the Dallas Zoo

What’s My Question – Estimation, Quantity, and Scale

What’s My Question? Exploring Estimation, Quantity, and Scale at St. Philip’s School and Community Center

Do animals all walk with the same pattern, or are there different walk patterns?

The Dallas Zoo

How can we create repeating patterns based on what we see in this beadwork?

Dallas Museum of Art: Bead-embroidered prestige hat (mpaan), 20th century. Kuba peoples, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa

How can we figure out the amount of mulch needed for this playground?

The Playground at Voice of Hope Ministries

Why is it Called the Flying Pancake?

Flying Pancake Exhibit at the Frontiers of Flight Museum

What is Mathematical about a Tree?

Bishop Boulevard at Southern Methodist University campus

Recipe Ratios: Which recipe uses more chiles?

The Incredible Edible Garden at the Dallas Arboretum

How slow can you go?

Girls Inc. Metropolitan of Dallas Campus

Gym, St. Philip’s School & Community Center

What is a Micro-pipette?

Learn how a micropipette works at UT Southwestern.

How quickly do hippos grow?

Simmons Hippo Outpost

You Spin Me Right Round!

Learn the ins and outs of a centrifuge at UT Southwestern.

Ultraviolet in the Lab

Learn about ultraviolet light in the lab at UT Southwestern.

How do we identify the mathematical patterns used to construct this artwork?

Dallas Museum of Art: Wall Drawing #398, 1983, drawn April 1985. Sol LeWitt (Color ink wash)

Where are the patterns in this artwork, and how do they help create certain feelings and structure?

Dallas Museum of Art: Guitar and Pipe, 1913. Juan Gris (Oil and charcoal on canvas)

Dallas Museum of Art: Genesis, The Gift of Life, 1954. Miguel Covarrubias (Glass mosaic on concrete)

What is mathematical about the patterns on this bowl?

Dallas Museum of Art: Ceramic Bowl, 13th century (Iran, Asia). The Keir Collection of Islamic Art on loan to the Dallas Museum of Art

How do we find the volume of water saved?

Garden, St. Philip’s School & Community Center

How does the size of our soccer field compare to a full-size regulation one?

The Field at Voice of Hope Ministries

How can we use math to measure this basketball court in units we can relate to?

The Basketball Court at Voice of Hope Ministries

What is the most efficient way to prep food in this industrial kitchen?

The Community Kitchen at Voice of Hope Ministries

How much of this tree is still alive, and how can we estimate it?

A Snag at the Twelve Hills Nature Center

Which types of birds can use a birdhouse of these dimensions?

A Birdhouse at the Twelve Hills Nature Center

What is special about the cottonwood tree’s leaf shape that allows it to be so loud?

Cottonwood Tree at the Twelve Hills Nature Center

What about its geometry makes the yucca so well-suited for its environment?

Yucca at the Twelve Hills Nature Center

What about the geometry of this tree makes it so good at keeping us cool?

Live Oak tree (or Cave Tree) at the Twelve Hills Nature Center

What are fractals?

Hockaday School campus

What’s the Really Big Number Here?

Hall of State, Fair Park

What is the pattern in the climbing wall?

Girls Inc. Metropolitan of Dallas Campus

What geometric patterns can we identify on a leaf?

The Magnolia Trees at the Dallas Arboretum

How can we estimate the amount of produce in a garden?

The All-American Trial Garden at the Dallas Arboretum

What determines where leaves are positioned on branches?

The Rhododendron Bushes at the Dallas Arboretum

Is it possible to measure an animal’s behavior?

The Mixed Species Area at the Dallas Zoo

Is there anything mathematical about a visual pattern like the giraffe coat pattern?

The Diane and Hal Brierley Giraffe Ridge at the Dallas Zoo

Is there a mathematical pattern to the way that penguins use their nests in South Africa?

The African Penguin Nesting Project at the Dallas Zoo

What is the Engineering Design Process?

Abele Residential Quad, Duke University

How Does Design Impact Capacity at the Bryan Center Plaza?

Bryan Center Plaza, Duke University

What is a Makerspace?

The Design Pod, Duke University

What Shaped the Design of the Duke Engineering Quad?

Harrington Engineering Quad, Duke University

How Can We Design Games at the Cameron Indoor Stadium’s Basketball Court?

Cameron Indoor Stadium Basketball Court, Duke University

Physics of Dance Workshop – Part 1

Dance workshop featuring Nycole Ray, Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s, DBDT:Encore! Artistic Director;
Carmen Cage, Artist; Floyd McLean, Jr., Artist. Place: Marshall Performing Arts Center, Greenhill School

Physics of Dance Workshop – Part 2

Dance workshop featuring Nycole Ray, Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s, DBDT:Encore! Artistic Director; Carmen Cage, Artist; Floyd McLean, Jr., Artist. Place: Marshall Performing Arts Center, Greenhill School

Physics of Dance Workshop – Part 3

Dance workshop featuring Nycole Ray, Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s, DBDT:Encore! Artistic Director; Carmen Cage, Artist; Floyd McLean, Jr., Artist. Place: Marshall Performing Arts Center, Greenhill School

Physics of Dance Workshop – Part 4

Dance workshop featuring Nycole Ray, Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s, DBDT:Encore! Artistic Director; Carmen Cage, Artist; Floyd McLean, Jr., Artist. Place: Marshall Performing Arts Center, Greenhill School

Physics of Dance Workshop – Part 5

Dance workshop featuring Nycole Ray, Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s, DBDT:Encore! Artistic Director; Carmen Cage, Artist; Floyd McLean, Jr., Artist. Place: Marshall Performing Arts Center, Greenhill School

walkSTEM@ Parkland Hospital During COVID-19 pandemic

Parkland Hospital

What Angles do We Make when We Walk?

Movement scientist looks at the phenomenon of walking, with a focus on angles.

Welcome to the MADI Museum

MADI Museum of Geometric Art

How Did the Artist Make a 3D Parabolic Curve?

MADI Museum of Geometric Art

What’s the Area of Part of a Circle?

MADI Museum of Geometric Art

How Many Lines Are There?

MADI Museum of Geometric Art

What is Symmetry? – Turtle Pond

Turtle Pond, NorthPark Center

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

Turtle Pond, NorthPark Center

How do the Hammering Men move?

Jonathan Borofsky, Hammering Man – steel and motor 1984-1985, by the Neiman Marcus of the Northpark Center

How do gears create movement?

Jonathan Borofsky, Hammering Man – steel and motor 1984-1985, by the Neiman Marcus of the Northpark Center

What’s the Mathematical Mystery Here? Fountain

Fountain, NorthPark Center

How symmetrical is a Buckyball?

Leo Villareal, Buckyball – LEDs, aluminum, electronics 2015, Centerpark Garden, Northpark Center

What is a trapezoid?

Dallas City Hall Building

How do you compare shapes?

Henry Moore, The Dallas Piece – bronze 1978, Dallas City Hall Plaza

Is the pool circular?

Reflecting Pool, Dallas City Hall Plaza

How do you measure speed?

Marta Pan, Floating Sculpture – polyester and paint 1973, Dallas Museum of Art

How tall are the flagpoles?

Flagpoles, Dallas City Hall Plaza

Using arrays, how many windows are there?

Texas School Book Depository exterior

How does environment affect a building?

Dallas Holocaust Museum exterior

How tall are the gateway arches?

West End Historical District, arches

How can we measure arches and lines?

West End Historical District, arches

What volume of water is in the fountain?

Dealey Plaza

What is the speed of the water?

Ronald Kirk Bridge

What is the weight of an ice rink?

Ronald Kirk Bridge

What is a dodecahedron?

Ronald Kirk Bridge

Which mass travels faster?

Ronald Kirk Bridge

What patterns can you find?

St. Philip’s School & Community Center

What’s the Scale Factor used in the Blueprint for the Welcome Center?

St. Philip’s School & Community Center

How many students fit in the chapel while observing social distancing regulations?

Chapel, St. Philip’s School & Community Center

How do we find the volume of water saved?

Garden, St. Philip’s School & Community Center

How to best control temperature when cooking?

Starbucks Community Cafe

What’s the difference between Starbucks nitro brew and a carbonated soda?

Starbucks Community Cafe

How many Starbucks drink combinations are there?

Starbucks Community Cafe

What effect does temperature have on brewed Starbucks coffee?

Starbucks Community Cafe

What is the most efficient routine?

Starbucks Community Cafe

How many “tri-circles” are there in the playground?

Greenhill School campus

How many angles can you find using the angle-a-tron?

Greenhill School campus

How tall could the tower be?

Greenhill School campus

What is the ideal four square fraction?

Greenhill School campus

What shapes bring us together?

Greenhill School campus

Who has the best seat in the house?

Greenhill School campus

Why is the school building designed the way it is?

Solar Preparatory School for Girls, Dallas Independent School District

Why is the tire swing this shape?

Girls Inc. Metropolitan of Dallas Campus

What’s the fastest way to slide?

Girls Inc. Metropolitan of Dallas Campus

Why is the roof this shape?

Girls Inc. Metropolitan of Dallas Campus

How Do Cylinders Make Beautiful Shapes?

Hunt Oil Headquarters Building in the Dallas Arts District

What are Fractals?

Magnolia Trees on Harwood Street in Dallas Arts District

What Can You Measure in Bamboo Plants?

Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas Arts District

What is the Really Big Number Here?

Flora Street Sidewalk in Dallas Arts District

How Can Shapes Create Feelings?

Meyerson Symphony Center in the Dallas Arts District

What is a Mathematical Fossil Hunt?

Hall Texas Sculpture Walk in Dallas Arts District

How Do You Measure Pitch and How is it Helpful?

Dee and Charles Wyly Theater at AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District

How Can Basic Shapes Create Complex Art?

Booker T Washington School, Dallas ISD in Dallas Arts District

What is the shape of the traffic bollard?

Flora Street Sidewalk in Dallas Arts District

Can Math Help Grass Grow?

Flora Street Sidewalk in Dallas Arts District

Where are the circles?

Cathedral Guadalupe in Dallas Arts District

What shapes are in the Geodome?

Playground, Mount Auburn STEAM Academy, Dallas ISD

What’s the Really Big Number here?

Mount Auburn STEAM Academy, Dallas ISD

How do we make the Swing go high?

Playground, Mount Auburn STEAM Academy, Dallas ISD

Similar Triangles or Not?

Esplanade, Fair Park

How Fast Can You Go?

Texas Star, Fair Park

How Much Gold is There?

Tower Building, Fair Park

How Far Can We See?

Texas Star, Fair Park

What is Art Deco?

Esplanade, Fair Park

How long is the spiral?

Hockaday School campus

How does the pendulum move?

Crow Science Center, Hockaday School

How many tiles are there?

Hockaday School campus

How many sections are there?

Hockaday School campus

What is the golden ratio?

The Hill Family Fitness Center, Hockaday School

How tall is the sculpture?

Hockaday School campus

Why is the bollard this shape?

Hockaday School campus

What is the slope?

Crow Amphitheater, Hockaday School

What is Intuitive Wayfinding?

Dallas Love Field Airport Check-In Area

How High Does it Climb?

Alexander Liberman, Venture – steel 2019, at the Dallas Love Field Airport, Parking Garage C

How does geometry relate to the Campanile Windows?

Octavio Medellin, Campanile Window – stained glass 1960, reinstalled 2014 at the Dallas Love Field Airport Ticketing Hall

What Mathematical Differences Do We See?

Octavio Medellin, Campanile Window – stained glass 1960, reinstalled 2014 at the Dallas Love Field Airport Ticketing Hall

What is an Irregular Quadrilateral?

Octavio Medellin, Campanile Window – stained glass 1960, reinstalled 2014 at the Dallas Love Field Airport Ticketing Hall

What’s the Mathematical Pattern?

Lane Banks, Untitled (Love Field) – tile 2012, East Tunnel from Parking Garage into the Dallas Love Field Airport Check-in

What’s the Scale?

Dixie Friend Gay, North Texas Sunrise – mosaic 2013, Main Lobby Wall at the Dallas Love Field Airport

What is Bernoulli’s Principle?

Diana Goldberg & Julie Cohn, Luminaria – steel 2013, Entrance to the Dallas Love Field Airport

How Do Artists Use Technology?

Diana Goldberg & Julie Cohn, Luminaria – steel 2013, Entrance to the Dallas Love Field Airport

How do Forces Work?

Brower Hatcher & Marly Rogers, Sky – fiberglass 2013, Main Concourse of the Dallas Love Field Airport

How Large is the Art?

Martin Donlin, Blueprint of Flight – ceramic enamel 2013, Pedestrian Walkway to the Main Concourse of Dallas Love Field Airport

How Can We Estimate the Amount of Water on Earth?

Luighi “Tony” Flabiano of American Terrazzo, World Map – terrazzo 1959, Main Lobby of the Dallas Love Field Airport

How Hard Do Robots Work?

Luggage Management Area of Dallas Love Field Airport

Shapefinder – Goodnight Dallas

Convenient math tool to explore the places you go

Angle a tron

Convenient math tool to explore the places you go

How to navigate talkSTEM content using the Otocast travel app

Convenient app-guided math and STEM walking tours are freely accessible using the Otocast app

How to create a math walk in your backyard or neighborhood

Backyard

STEM in the Arts (Full version)

Panel Discussion at AT&T Performing Arts Center

STEM in the Arts (Short)

Panel Discussion at AT&T Performing Arts Center

Perspectives from Panelists

Perspectives from the Panelists who connect STEM to their work in the Dallas Arts District.

How to Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk

Dr. Glen Whitney, founder of the National Museum of Mathematics and walkSTEM advisor, walks us through how he designs a math walk.

How tall is the Ad Astra sculpture?

Mark Di Suvero, Ad Astra – steel 2005, Northcourt between Nordstrom and Macy’s, Northpark Center

What is the angle at the very top of the Ad Astra sculpture?

Mark Di Suvero, Ad Astra – steel 2005, Northcourt between Nordstrom and Macy’s, Northpark Center

What are Color Equations?

Pamela Nelson and Robert A. Wilson, Color Equations – aluminum and vinyl 2007, Nordstrom Court, Northpark Center

How do you use scale to read a map?

NorthPark Center

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

NorthPark Center

What’s the distance around the mall?

NorthPark Center

What’s the biggest store?

NorthPark Center

How is the artwork different from a water tower? – This Land Is Your Land

Iván Navarro, This Land is Your Land – Neon, wood, metal, mirror, and neon 2014, hall between Nieman Marcus and Nordstrom Court, Northpark Center

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

Iván Navarro, This Land is Your Land – Neon, wood, metal, mirror, and neon 2014, hall between Nieman Marcus and Nordstrom Court, Northpark Center

How does the artist represent infinity?

Iván Navarro, This Land is Your Land – Neon, wood, metal, mirror, and neon 2014, hall between Nieman Marcus and Nordstrom Court, Northpark Center

How do Scientists use Observations?

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

How Many Cells Does It Take to Cross the Road?

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

How Did the Artist Create this Illusion?

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

How Tall is this Imaginary Person?

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

How Can We Calculate Pi?

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

What Kinds of Angles Are There?

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

How Do We Measure Slope?

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

How Many Circles Make Up this Pattern?

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

How Can you Estimate the Number of Books on the Shelf?

J. Erik Jonsson Central Public Library – Teen Spot

How Does Perspective Create an Optical Illusion?

J. Erik Jonsson Central Public Library – Teen Spot

What Are the Dimensions of the Room?

J. Erik Jonsson Central Public Library – Louise Kahn Pavilion

Where is the Pattern?

J. Erik Jonsson Central Public Library – Chalkboard

How Big is Your Imagination?

J. Erik Jonsson Central Public Library – Children’s Section

What Shapes Can You Find?

J. Erik Jonsson Central Public Library – Children’s Section

What is Symmetry?

J. Erik Jonsson Central Public Library – Louise Kahn Pavilion

How Many are in the Array?

J. Erik Jonsson Central Public Library – Louise Kahn Pavilion

How Can We Determine Map Scale?

Red Bird Mall

What are the building blocks of the mosaic?

Red Bird Mall

How can we design our own mosaic pattern?

Red Bird Mall

Why is the Ceiling Made of Triangles?

Red Bird Mall

How Does a Sundial Work?

Dallas Hall at Southern Methodist University campus

How Symmetrical Is It?

Hughes Trigg Student Center at Southern Methodist University campus

What Is an Ellipse?

Blanton Student Services Building at Southern Methodist University campus

How do you use mathematical clues?

Blanton Student Services Building at Southern Methodist University campus

How does Gravity Affect Flowing Water?

Cooper Centennial Fountain at Southern Methodist University campus

How to Estimate the Capacity of the Football Stadium?

Gerald G. Ford Stadium at Southern Methodist University campus

How do you Measure Slope?

Hillcrest Foundation Amphitheater at the Lyle School of Engineering at Southern Methodist University campus

How did Calatrava Build this Sculpture?

Calatrava Wave Sculpture outside Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University campus

What is Symmetry Doing for Us?

Dallas Hall Rotunda at Southern Methodist University campus

How Do You Create Your Own Labyrinth?

Habito Labyrinth at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University campus

Welcome to the Dallas Arts District

Welcome to Dallas Arts District

What’s the Most Symmetrical Solid?

Children’s Playground at Klyde Warren Park in the Dallas Arts District

How Did the Architects Play with Numbers?

Sammons Park at AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District

What is the Artist’s Favorite Ratio?

Nasher Sculpture Center in the Dallas Arts District

Why is There a Gap in the Building’s Facade?

Dee and Charles Wyly Theater at AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District

How Many Different Ways Can You Count?

One Arts Plaza in the Dallas Arts District

How Can Latitude Affect Design?

Sammons Park at AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District

How Can we Estimate Really Tall Things We Can’t Reach?

Sammons Park at AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District

How Do Artists Use Math to Mix Colors?

Miguel Covarrubias, Genesis, The Gift of Life – glass mosaic c. 1954 at the Dallas Museum of Art in the Dallas Arts District

Women in Tech: Moderator and Panelist Introductions

Panel Discussion at University of Texas at Dallas

Women in Tech Panel Discussion

Panel Discussion at University of Texas at Dallas

Women in Tech: Questions from Students in the Audience

Panel Discussion at University of Texas at Dallas

Women in Tech: What is a STEM mindset?

Panel Discussion at University of Texas at Dallas

Women in Tech: What would you love to see in classrooms?

Panel Discussion at University of Texas at Dallas

Women in Tech: What did you do outside school that helped in your career path?

Panel Discussion at University of Texas at Dallas

Women in Tech: What do you wish someone had told you when you were in school?

Panel Discussion at University of Texas at Dallas

Women in Tech: How do you think companies support communities?

Panel Discussion at University of Texas at Dallas

Women in Tech: What implicit biases have you witnessed?

Panel Discussion at University of Texas at Dallas

Women in Tech: Why do women need to be at the table to make decisions?

Panel Discussion at University of Texas at Dallas

Welcome to the Girl Scouts STEM Center of Excellence at Camp Whispering Cedars

Welcome to the Girl Scouts STEM Center of Excellence at Camp Whispering Cedars

How Many People Can Fit on the Observation Deck?

Observation Deck, Girl Scouts STEM Center of Excellence at Camp Whispering Cedars

What is the Slope of this Staircase?

Staircase leading to Observation Deck, Girl Scouts STEM Center of Excellence at Camp Whispering Cedars

What is the Highest Point on the Swing?

Ropes Course, Girl Scouts STEM Center of Excellence at Camp Whispering Cedars

What Size is the Sports Field?

Staubach Sports Field, Girl Scouts STEM Center of Excellence at Camp Whispering Cedars

What Volume of Water can the Rain Barrels Hold?

Crystal Charity Ball Exploration Center, Girl Scouts STEM Center of Excellence at Camp Whispering Cedars

How Big is the Pool?

Swimming Pool, Girl Scouts STEM Center of Excellence at Camp Whispering Cedars

How to Measure Change in Musical Pitch?

Outdoor Soundscape, Girl Scouts STEM Center of Excellence at Camp Whispering Cedars

What Did You Hear on Your Sound Walk?

Girl Scouts STEM Center of Excellence at Camp Whispering Cedars

Where Does the Sun Set?

Texas Lodge, Girl Scouts STEM Center of Excellence at Camp Whispering Cedars

How Can You Enquire Like a walkSTEM Explorer -1?

Crystal Charity Ball Exploration Center, Girl Scouts STEM Center of Excellence at Camp Whispering Cedars

How to Find a True Circle?

Texas Lodge, Girl Scouts STEM Center of Excellence at Camp Whispering Cedars

How Can You Enquire Like a walkSTEM Explorer -2?

Lisa K. Simmons Amphitheater, Girl Scouts STEM Center of Excellence at Camp Whispering Cedars

Welcome to the Frontiers of Flight Museum

Welcome to the Frontiers of Flight Museum

How Many People Fit on a 737 Plane?

737 Airplane Exhibit at the Frontiers of Flight Museum

What Inspired the Wright Brothers?

Wright Brothers’ Flyer at the Frontiers of Flight Museum

How Can we Estimate the Height of the Beal Rocket?

Beal Rocket Model at the Frontiers of Flight Museum

Why is the Apollo VII shaped that way?

Command Module for Apollo VII mission at the Frontiers of Flight Museum

What Materials Make Up the Apollo VII?

Command Module for Apollo VII mission at the Frontiers of Flight Museum

Can We Figure Out Which End is Which in the Engine of the Blackbird?

Blackbird Engine at the Frontiers of Flight Museum

How is a Jet Engine Different from Other Engines?

Blackbird Engine at the Frontiers of Flight Museum

Where Can We See Symmetry in this Airplane?

Tuskegee Airmen Exhibit at the Frontiers of Flight Museum

What Does it Mean to “Circumnavigate”?

Amelia Earhart Exhibit at the Frontiers of Flight Museum

What Materials Did the Wright Brothers use to Build the Flyer-and Why?

Wright Brothers’ Flyer at the Frontiers of Flight Museum

How is Spaceship One Uniquely Designed to Achieve its Goals?

Spaceship One at the Frontiers of Flight Museum