AopS math classes for HS in the fall!

In fall 2010, Art of Problem Solving's offering Algebra I and Intro. to Geometry at "Homeschool and Europe-friendly times". (Of course homeschoolers can take courses that meet in the evening, but 1pm times might be more convenient for many. The majority of AoPS courses are usually offered from 7:30 - 9pm eastern) A brief description of the 2 classes are below. )
http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/School/classlist.php

They also offer classes in the summer.

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Algebra I: Fundamental concepts of algebra, including exponents and radicals, linear equations and inequalities, ratio and proportion, systems of linear equations, factoring quadratics, complex numbers, completing the square, and the quadratic formula.

Diagnostic Tests: Are You Ready? - Do You Need This?

Textbook: This course requires the textbook Introduction to Algebra. There is a discount if you buy the text when registering for the course.

September 14th, 2010 - January 11th, 2011
Schedule: Tue 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM ET (10:00 AM - 11:30 AM PT)
Register by: September 28th, 2010
Instructor: To be announced
Cost: Enroll $240 ($290 with books)

Introduction to Geometry: Fundamentals of geometry, including angles, triangle similarity and congruence, complicated area problems, mastering the triangle, special quadrilaterals, polygons, the art of angle chasing, power of a point, 3-dimensional geometry, transformations, analytic geometry, basic trigonometry, geometric proof, and more.

Diagnostic Tests: Are You Ready? - Do You Need This?

Textbook: This course requires the textbook Introduction to Geometry. There is a discount if you buy the text when registering for the course.

September 3rd, 2010 - March 4th, 2011

Schedule:	Fri 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM ET (10:00 AM - 11:30 AM PT)
Register by:	September 17th, 2010
Instructor:	Joshua Zucker
Cost:	Enroll $370 ($415 with books)

(free) World Math Day

SET TO BREAK A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD

World Math Day is free and lots of FUN!
Join us in a celebration of numbers as students from around the globe unite in their quest to set a world record in answering mental arithmetic questions. Be a part of this great education event involving more than 2 million students from over 200 countries.

Brand NEW format. Children take part in real-time math challenges using the using the Mathletics game engine. Children play live with other students around the globe. World Math Day is the education event for the world! Your students will love it! Be part of setting a world record! It will create an amazing buzz around Math. Designed for all ages and ability levels. Simple to register and participate. All you need is internet access. Great prizes And it's absolutely free!!

HURRY, registration closes 1 March 2010
www.worldmathday.com

Math contests

There are quire a few very organized competitions including:

Algebra in Action
http://www.colstate.edu/mathcontest/problem.php?CategoryID=1&LinkID=Current

Middle School Madness
http://www.colstate.edu/mathcontest/problem.php?CategoryID=2&LinkID=Current

As far as I know, homeschoolers are accepted, although I know that is *some* competitions, homeschoolers may need to find a team to join. The only other "homeschool caution" is that sometimes there are strict grade definitions, and sometimes they care about things like the number of community college courses one has taken, etc. so do look at each contests rules. I suspect that one may want to keep the came grade level for all competitions

NASA Educational Materials - update

The Educational Materials section of NASA's Web site offers classroom activities, educator guides, posters and other types of resources that are available for use in the classroom. Materials are listed by type, grade level and subject. The following items are now available for downloading.

1. Adventures in Rocket Science Educator Guide -- Informal Education
   This guide contains 25 activities designed for 4-H Clubs, Boys and Girls Clubs, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, after-school programs, and other informal education venues. Participants learn about the history and principles of rocketry and NASA's newest rockets -- Ares I and Ares V. While doing these hands-on activities, participants also learn about Hero Engines, parachutes and surface area, altitude tracking, and Newton's Laws Of Motion. Learners can also build four types of rockets and two types of egg drops.
   http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Adventures_in_Rocket_Science.html
   
   
2. Environmental Control and Life Support Systems Water Filtration Challenge Educator Guide -- Grades 5-8
   Earth provides the air we breathe, the water we drink, and other conditions that support life. Earth is a natural life support system. On the International Space Station, the Environmental Control and Life Support System provides these needs. The functions of an ECLSS include atmosphere revitalization; atmosphere control and supply; temperature and humidity control; water recovery and management; waste management; and fire detection and suppression. The activities in this guide focus on water recovery and management.
   
   The challenge is to design and build a water filtration device using commonly available materials. To meet this challenge, students build, test and measure the performance of the filtration device, analyze the data collected, and use this information to work towards an improved filtration design.
   http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Water_Filtration_Challenge.html
   
   
3. Space Math I -- Grades 7-9
   
   These activities comprise a series of 20 practical mathematics applications in space science. This collection of activities is based on a weekly series of space science problems distributed to teachers during 2004-2005 school year. The problems in this booklet investigate space weather phenomena and math applications such as solar flares, satellite orbit decay, magnetism, the Pythagorean Theorem, order of operations and probability. The problems are authentic glimpses of modern engineering issues that arise in designing satellites to work in space. Each word problem has background information providing insight into the basic phenomena of the sun-Earth system, specifically space weather. The one-page assignments are accompanied by one-page teacher guides with answer keys.
   
   Note: This guide was formerly published as the Extra-Credit Problems in Space Science Educator Guide
   http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Space_Math_I.html
   
   
4. Space Math II -- Grades 7-9
   
   These activities comprise a series of 24 practical mathematics applications in space science. This collection of activities is based on a weekly series of space science problems distributed to teachers during 2005-2006 school year. The problems in this booklet investigate science and math concepts such as solar energy, stars, scientific notation, and distance, rate and time. The problems are authentic glimpses of modern engineering issues that arise in designing satellites to work in space. Each word problem has background information providing insight into the basic phenomena of the sun-Earth system, specifically space weather. The one-page assignments are accompanied by one-page teacher guides with answer keys.
   http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Space_Math_II.html
   
   
5. Space Math III -- Grades 9-12
   
   These activities comprise a series of 36 practical mathematics applications in space science. This collection of activities is based on a weekly series of space science problems distributed to teachers during 2005-2006 school year. The problems in this booklet investigate science and mathematics concepts such as radiation effects on humans and technology, solar science, algebra, trigonometry and calculus. The problems are authentic glimpses of modern engineering issues that arise in designing satellites to work in space. Each word problem has background information providing insight into the basic phenomena of the sun-Earth system, specifically space weather. The one-page assignments are accompanied by one-page teacher guides with answer keys.
   http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Space_Math_III.html

Math contest for middle and high school student

Round 1 problems of Year 20 (2008-09) of the USA Mathematical Talent Search are now available at www.usamts.org. The postmark deadline for solutions is October 14, 2008.

Please read carefully the following important information:

If you have participated in the USAMTS in the past, you will notice a number of changes this year. In particular, solutions may be submitted by web upload or by mail; emailed or faxed solutions will no longer be accepted. Please carefully read all of the Year 20 changes on www.usamts.org.

If you have not already registered online for Year 20, please do so at www.usamts.org. If you participated in a previous year, all you will have to do to register for Year 20 is log in to www.usamts.org (using the same username/password as you did in the past)--the first time you log in this year, you will be asked to verify that your information (address, email, grade, etc.) is still current, and make any necessary changes.

All USAMTS participants must fill out and sign an Entry/Permission form, available on www.usamts.org. (You must do this even if you participated in a previous year.) This can be submitted by mail along with your first set of solutions, or separately by mail or fax anytime before the Round 1 entry deadline of October 14.

We hope you enjoy the problems, and we look forward to your participation on the USAMTS this year.

Best regards,

--Dave Patrick
Director, USA Mathematical Talent Search
usamts@usamts.org

Planning Pi Day Party

Considering - Pi Day Party on March 14, 2008

Why not? 3.14159...

piday.org is the official site but you can also read more at Wikipedia's Pi_Day entry or get activity ideas from Exploratorium's celebrations and Math with Mr. Herte.

Looking for the first million digits of Pi? If you are trying to remember "just" the first 50 digits, you may want to try this pneumonic song for the 50 fifty digits of Pi. (I am the first fifty digits of Pi lyrics or I am the first fifty digits of Pi as tablature for the guitar) Need Pi magnets, coffee cups, stickers, or T-shirts? There are more out there than you might expect. Thinking ahead for next year...?

Pi day is also Albert Einstein's birthday. Read about Albert Einstein at Wikipedia. He would be turn 129 years old if he were alive in 2008. Of course there are Einstein T-shirts, etc. out there too!

Math League

Math League Homeschool Contests

Each year The Math League sponsors contests for grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Algebra Course 1, and High School. By popular demand, Math League's Math Contests are now available for homeschoolers.

12:34 5/6/7

We remembered the day - but missed the shirt. There are a whole bunch of 1234567 shirts over at Cartesian Bear Designs but even they can't ship the day that I see them! I have heard only good things about them and what they can do.

We better prepare now for June 7th of next year when it will be: 23:45 6/7/8