COVID-19 Summer 2021
Summer 2021 Planning - Roadmap for Covid 19
Mathworks is excited to invite you to apply for the 2021 summer programs and will be offering virtual camps.
We are following Texas State University's lead as we plan for the events. Please visit the following University webpage for the latest in Covid-19 updates. https://www.txstate.edu/coronavirus.html
Current plans for the 2021 summer camps (Central Time Zone):
Honors Summer Math Camp (HSMC)
Five weeks June 27 - July 31, 2021
Virtual camp cost $2500
Tentative Daily Schedule:
HSMC first-year program is:
9:00 – 10:15 Number Theory class (via Zoom)
10:30 – 11:45 Honors Seminar, two days a week (via Zoom)
1:00 – 2:25 Mathematica Lab (via Zoom), 1/2 class meets 2:30 – 3:45
4:00 – 5:00 Friday colloquium
6:00 – 8:00 Study group with a counselor (via Zoom)
TBA Special tutorials about using LaTeX and Overleaf
TBA Other social activities are still being planned
HSMC second-year and third-year program is:
9:00 – Noon Research time, Zoom meetings arranged with faculty mentor
1:00 – 2:15 PM Analysis I (second-year)
2:30 – 3:45 PM Abstract Algebra (third-year students)
4:00 – 5:00 PM Friday colloquium
6:00 – 8:00 PM Study group with a counselor (via Zoom)
TBA Special tutorials about using Latex and Overleaf
TBA Other social activities are still being planned
We plan to offer some flexibility regarding study group times for students who prefer to meet in the afternoon or later in the evening. This is something that each study group will need to plan.
Junior Summer Math Camp - Residential (JSMCR)
Two weeks June 13 - June 25, 2021
Virtual camp cost $1,000
Daily Schedule:
9:00 – 10:30 Class
10:30 – 12:30 Free Time/Lunch
12:30 – 2:00 Class
2:00 – 6:00 Free Time/various social activities
6:00 - 8:00 Study Group (4 students with each group assigned a counselor. During study group, students will work on daily problem sets.
On Friday, the schedule will be somewhat different, since we will have a colloquium from 4:00 – 5:00 pm.
Junior Summer Math Camp - Half-Day (JSMCH)
Two weeks June 14 - June 25, 2021, $0
Six math sessions will be offered during the two weeks of camp. The sessions will be offered on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm.
- Monday sessions are designed for students in grades 3 and 4
- Wednesday sessions are designed for students in grades 5 and 6
- Friday sessions are designed for students in grades 7 and 8
Note: All students are welcome to all sessions.
On Friday, June 18, 2021, we will offer a special guest speaker after the 4:00 pm session.
Monday, June 14th - Math “Magic” tricks using Topology!
Intro by Tim Chase, presented by Texas State Math Club
Topology is a branch of mathematics that deals with organization, position, and relationships between objects in a topological space. This often involves molding, twisting, or stretching objects from one shape into another, but tearing or gluing are not allowed. Properties in topology can help explain why things can or cannot happen. We will show you three interesting topology “magic tricks”, show you how to do them yourself, and explain the mathematics that makes the trick work.
Target Grade: 3rd – 4th
Students will need: several sheets of paper, scissors, pencil/pen/marker, a piece of string/yarn (at least 12 inches long), clear tape.
Wednesday, June 16th – Dots and Boxes – An Introduction to Game Theory Presented by Tim Chase
Game Theory is a branch of mathematics that is used in a variety of disciplines, including economics, military strategy, politics, and other fields, to analyze competitive situations. The classic two player kids game of Dots and Boxes is a very easy game to learn, but has some very interesting mathematics behind it. We will explore this game and try to determine winning strategies or advantages that either player can have over the other.
Target grade: 5th – 6th
Students will need: to access the website http://dotsandboxes.org/
Friday, June 18th – Fun with Fractals
Presented by Texas State Math Club
Fractals are never-ending patterns that repeat themselves infinitely at different physical dimensions over and over again. They are called self-similar, so that when you zoom in on a fractal picture, the same pattern appears again and again. Fractal patterns are seen in math equations, as well as in nature (such as snowflakes or leaves from a tree, rivers, coastlines, etc.), and some can be generated by a computer calculating a simple equation repeatedly. We will explore the world of fractals, and design some using an online tool.
Target Grade: 7th – 8th
Students will need: to access the website: https://www.visnos.com/demos/fractal
Monday, June 21st—Terrific Tangrams!
Presented by Timothy Chase
A tangram is a traditional Chinese puzzle made up of seven shapes, called tans, that can be arranged to form many different designs. A tangram is made up of two big triangles, one medium triangle, two small triangles, one square, and one parallelogram. While it can be fun to just create interesting designs, (in the 1800s alone when tangrams initially became popular, people came up with more than 6,500 configurations), they are also treated as puzzles, where a player is shown a target shape in outline and attempts to recreate the shape using the seven pieces. We will explore these wonderful mathematical designs and try our hand at them.
Target Grade: 3rd -4th
Students will need: to access the website https://mathigon.org/tangram
Wednesday, June 23rd – The Marvelous Mobius Strip
Presented by Texas State Math Club
One of the most interesting “shapes” to come from topology is the Mobius strip. Despite its simple appearance and construction, this shape has a lot of deep mathematics behind it. It is described as a surface having only one side and one edge. While formally discovered in the mid 1800’s, indications are that it may have been known about from ancient Greek or Egyptian times. Artists and mathematicians alike have been fascinated by this simply designed, complex object. We will explore some of its properties and talk about the mathematics that exists behind it – while getting actively involved, cutting this shape apart.
Target grade: 5th – 6th
Students will need: Several strips of paper (about 1 inch wide, 11 inches long), scissors, tape
Friday, June 25th – Exploring the Tower of Hanoi
Presented by Tim Chase
The Tower of Hanoi is a mathematical puzzle / games that consists of three sticks and several different sized disks, which can slide onto any of the rods. The puzzle starts with the disks stacked on one rod, in order of decreasing size. The objective is for the player to move the entire stack to the last rod, obeying the following simple rules: only one disk may be moved at a time, you may move a disk to either an empty rod, or on top of another stack, and no disk may be placed on top of a disk that is smaller than it. While the game itself is simple, there is a lot of mathematics behind this puzzle. We will explore this puzzle and see what interesting mathematics can be discovered!
Target grade: 7th – 8th
Best regards,
Max