Math Fair Prep: Introductory Talks

In preparation for the 2007 Math Fairs, many visits were scheduled with district-wide mathematics teachers and the FoM mathematicians and educators. A few highlights are noted below.

• On October 25, 2006, Art Heinricher (WPI) led a Math Fair Seminar joined by resident FoM Mathematicians Al Doerr (UML), Marvin Freedman (BU), Marvin Stick (UML), and Ken Levasseur (UML) who each lead study groups in Lawrence. A group of 26 Lawrence teachers and administrators from Frost, Guilmette, Lawrence HS, Leonard, Oliver, Parthum and South Lawrence East attended the Math Fair Seminar.

• On November 2, 2006, Dick Hall (BU) and Art Heinricher (WPI) continued their Math Fair Prep at South Lawrence East middle school and were joined by 21 Lawrence teachers and administrators from Frost, Guilmette, Leahy, Oliver, Parthum, and SLE.

• On February 6, 2007, Al Cuoco (EDC) met with approximately 50 students in 3 tenth grade classes: two of Sue Gerber's classes, and one of Steve MacDonald's classes. He showed them "Marion Walter's Theorem" and they read the front-page article about the student in Baltimore who worked on it. They had many different ways to modify the problem. They also discussed many math project ideas that the students were curious about: from surface areas of 3-D shapes to time machines!

• On March 6, 2007, D ick Hall (BU) went to Lawrence and gave a talk to all the 5th and 6th graders at Guilmette — approximately 250 students! The 5th and 6th grade teachers are preparing their students as they extend the 2007 Math Fair to include 5th and 6th grade projects for the first time. All 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade projects will be judged in their homeroom prior to the school-wide Math Fair which will be based on a selection of those projects.

• On March 13, 2007, Art Heinricher (WPI) gave a presentation to 130 students and 10 teachers from grades 5, 7, and 8 at the South Lawrence East middle school. The kids were doing problems and were thoroughly engaged!

Math Fairs

• 19 District Math Fairs displayed student research projects beginning in April 2007. Five district high schools and fourteen middle schools participated.

• A team of FoM Mathematicians were always available to work with teachers and principals to facilitate the poster evaluation and review process at each Math Fair.