Play testing

I started a new job—as Director of Math Play—at MathHappens Foundation back in December. Things are going great and we’re up to lots of fun. In particular, we are doing a little play testing this summer. If you are in a situation to receive a puzzle for ages 6 through adult, share it in a setting where ten or more people, of a range of ages can play with it, and to answer a few questions about the experience, we need your help! 

We are hoping for a wide range of contexts: community centers, libraries, day camps, festivals, schools, etc. Participation will be free of charge—we will ask only for 10–15 minutes of your time on a survey—and you can keep the puzzle or pass it along to others for further play. 

We expect we'll get more requests than we have puzzles at this time. If you'd like to help out, please fill out this short interest form to let us know about you and your context.

Real-world data

Via Amie Albrecht, I learned about Emma, an 8-year old in Australia who collected data to figure out which sorts of people are more likely to get swooped by the magpie in her school’s neighborhood.

Microwave math

A while back, the amazing Jenna Laib shared some great mathy adventures prompted by the bizarre controls on the microwave in her school’s teacher lounge.

Social media

My Twitter use is way down over the last eight months. I still pop in to announce stuff, and will amplify interesting things while I’m there. But it has sadly become a less useful place for interesting conversations. You’re more likely to find me on Bluesky these days. It’s not yet a replacement for we’ve lost on Twitter, but if connect there maybe it will be someday? Anyway, you no longer need an invitation to subscribe there—just click on through and sign up if you’re so inclined.

I’m also trying to share visual math fun from my world and adventures at least once a week over on Instagram.

Handles for both at the end of this email.

Also, Lara Jasien has started sharing mathy adventures she has with her young children on Instagram, as Playful Family Math. If you’re there, give her a follow!

Hexagon Challenge posters

Public Math has made beautiful Hexagon Challenge posters available for sale. The poster shows more than 300 solutions to the Hexagon Challenge that children found at Math On-A-Stick over the course of two summers. Entered in the JMM Mathematical Art Exhibition under the title “Is It Complete? Children’s Solutions to the Hexagon Challenge”, this poster won an Honorable Mention and was featured in the American Mathematical Society’s 2023 calendar 

Conic section models

An ongoing project at MathHappens Foundation is distributing a model of conic sections to high school teaches around the US. Get more information and sign up for a model—or set of models—at the MathHappens website.

Coming attractions

The Teacher Guide for How Did You Count? went into copy editing. There are no formal publication details available yet, but likely it’ll be available sometime in 2025. Aimed at upper-elementary aged children, it is a follow-up to How Many? and will be published by Stenhouse.

The chances of publishing Is It a Vehicle? have increased greatly in recent months. Hopefully there’ll be an announcement about that soon.

Finally, beautiful wooden hat tiles—discovered in late 2022—are coming to the Talking Math with Your Kids Store this autumn. Stay tuned!

Volunteers needed

Math On-A-Stick runs on hundreds of hours of volunteer time, and the volunteer sign up site is live for 2024! The process is simple—you sign up for a 3-to-4-hour shift on the SignUp Genius site, then in early August we mail you information about the event and a ticket to the Minnesota State Fair.

This year’s Fair runs August 22 through Labor Day, September 2. We regularly have out-of-town visitors who volunteer for a shift or two, enjoy the second-largest state fair in the country, and spend a day or more exploring the Twin Cities—all possible over a leisurely long weekend.

So wherever you’re from, come join us! Get in touch directly if you have any questions or need recommendations during your visit.

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The Talking Math with Your Kids newsletter is lovingly compiled and written by Christopher Danielson. Comments, questions, suggestions, and requests always welcome.  

Find the work on social media:
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twitter: @trianglemancsd
blog: talkingmathwithkids.com