The Challenge: Build yourself a wobbler. Wobblers are 2 circle (or 2 ellipse!) constructions that have a constant center of mass. Or rather, a center of mass that doesn’t move up and down as the wobbler rolls. Thus, resulting in a satisfyingly continuous “wobble”.
Materials Needed: cardboard, ruler, boxcutter or scissors
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: algebra, angles, circles, geometry, proportions/ratios, symmetry, vertices/intersections
The Challenge: Crochet your very own Hyperbolic Plane (or Pseudosphere?)
Materials Needed: Crochet hook, yarn.
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: exponents, hyperbolic geometry, proportions/ratios, topology
The Challenge: With a compass or with tech like Geogebra or Desmos Geometry, to recreate the Lotfallah Mosque Dome design.
Materials Needed: compass, straight edge, colors. You could also use graphing software for this.
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: angles, circles, geometric construction, geometry, Islamic geometry, lines, polygons, proportions/ratios, symmetry, vertices/intersections
The Challenge Game: This one really isn’t a challenge – it’s a sweet game, you should play with whomever you’re sequestered at home with. Or by yourself. I clearly played myself.
Materials Needed: writing utensil, writing surface
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: graph theory, proportions/ratios, vertices/intersections
The Challenge: Start by making (or use mine below) a Pascal’s Triangle. Then shade in some sequence of values. I suggest starting with even/odd numbers, and then perhaps multiple of 3, 4 etc.
Materials Needed: Pascal’s triangle. You can print one or you can create your own!
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: algebra, arithmetic, combinations & permutations, counting, functions, proportions/ratios, sequences, symmetry
The Challenge: Create a large number of similar right triangles using the technique described in this video from Mark Kaercher. Then play!
Materials Needed: Scissors, paper, ruler?
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: angles, geometry, lines, polygons, proportions/ratios
The Challenge: Draw a labyrinth.
Materials Needed: Patience, paper, pencil, maybe a compass.
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: Proportions/ratios, sequences
The Challenge: Create your very own Golden Rectangle Icosahedron!
Materials Needed: Cardboard, markers, scissors/box cutter, string/ribbon/thread
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: angles, geometric construction, geometry polygons, polyhedra, proportions/ratios, vertices/intersections
The Challenge: Draw a golden spiral.
Materials Needed: Grid paper? Writing utensils.
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: geometry, proportions/ratios, sequences
The Challenge: Draw a polygon. Then mark the midpoint of each side. Connect the midpoints of each side to make a new polygon. Repeat. (Don’t sleep on the quadrilaterals here. They do something rather surprising and beautiful!)
Materials Needed: Paper & pencil or online graphing software like Geogebra or Desmos
Math concepts you could explore with this challenge: angles, fractals, functions, geometry, lines, polygons, proportions/ratios, slope symmetry, vertices/intersections.
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