Math Fairs!

How many people do you meet who would describe mathematics as dreary and/or terrifying? For most of us the answer is "Far too many!" The department is launching a project to offset this a bit: Math Fairs. A Math Fair is a family evening at which groups of students in an elementary school take charge of presenting mathematical games and puzzles, and their families and fellow students come play the games and work on the puzzles and have a lot of fun. The first of the Fairs was at Leschi Elementary School last spring (a description is at this web page). This year, with help from the GK-12 Project, we are working to involve more mathematicians, and to establish a template that can be offered to other schools. One thing is for sure — it's not only the kids who have fun with the Fairs!

Ginger Warfield