Math as a language for understanding the natural world.

Wednesdays, 10am - 3pm | Ages 9 - 15 | January - March 2016

What does math have to do with trees? Ice? Sunlight? Maple syrup? How can it help us to investigate winter phenomena, both physical and ecological?

Over the course of 10 weeks, the students of Math For Explorers jumped into the curious world of numbers. Part of each day was spent outside: exploring, gathering and playing with data, which we then took back home to interpret, calculate, question and model. We came to understand how to find area, volume, total weight, and the ratios that help us to make calculations. We investigated the what and why of Pi, the mysterious beauty of the Fibonacci sequence and the number Phi. We encountered the power of triangles, the beauty of polygons and polyhedrons and the angles and lines that define them. We made measurements using our bodies and line of sight. We compared information, came to some conclusions, and generated many more questions. We’ve built our math toolboxes, and explored ways to combine measurements and observations to gain a deeper understanding of nature, the cosmos, our bodies, architecture and art. And, we made some maple syrup in the process!

A course with Kaya Weidman and Chris Weidman. Chris Weidman, PhD, is a recently retired marine scientist, and the former Director of Research for the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. He's passionate about inspiring kids to learn, love, and use math to deeply experience the world around them. Kaya is a co-founder and co-director of Kite's Nest.