It’s not often, if ever, that you hear the word “pentacontakaipentagon” used in everyday conversation, much less by third- and fourth-graders.
But after Tuesday’s interactive math experience tours, The Lamplighter School students easily can tell you that a pentacontakaipentagon is a 55-sided polygon.
Photo courtesy of The Lamplighter School.
Lamplighter students are the first in the state to participate in the math tour, led by Glen Whitney and Cindy Lawrence, of New York City’s National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath).
MoMath, the only math museum in North America, “strives to enhance public understanding and perception of mathematics,” as well as improve math education.
Whitney and Lawrence led four math tours with several activities throughout the day. Students estimated the number of squares on the school’s life-sized chess board and measured the sides of the playground to demonstrate multiple ways of problem-solving and encourage students to use critical-thinking skills.
The students were the youngest group MoMath has led during a tour. Lawrence was excited to return to Dallas, she said, because of the city’s support when the museum launched in 2009.
Learn more about the program here.
