Mathematical Games and Puzzles (Fall, 2nd-3rd)

Play is a key part of a healthy mathematical perspective, and one that many students, parents, and teachers fail to appreciate.

In this 8 week course, we'll dive in to some of Math for Love's favorite games, including Nim, Hex, and Pico Fermi Bagels. These games are great to just play, but they also have some puzzling questions built-in, many of which have the potential to spiral into some serious problem solving rabbit holes that are compelling to mathematicians at all levels. During the last few weeks of the course, students will be invited to create and play their own games. In addition to providing a fun and rewarding experience on Sundays, we really hope you'll run with these games at home for years to come.

These games provide quite a rich space for play and exploration, so this course is appropriate for new and returning Math for Love students, regardless of their level of mathematical sophistication. No first graders in the fall, but we may make exceptions and allow a few first graders in the winter and spring.

The 2nd-3rd grade group and the 4th-6th grade group will explore a similar collection of games this fall, although we'll emphasize the analysis more with the older students and the play more with the younger ones. By keeping the content coverage similar between the two groups, we aim to further ease the burden of bringing these games into your homelife, particularly for those families with students in both groups.

Instructor: Paul Gafni

Class runs from Sundays October 2 to November 20, 2016, from 2:05-2:55. Help setting up tables and chairs from 2:00-2:05 is appreciated.

For information about need-based scholarships, contact paul.gafni@gmail.com.