MSRI Mathematical Circles Library
Volume: 11;
2012;
335 pp;
Softcover
MSC: Primary 97; 00;
Print ISBN: 978-0-8218-8745-5
Product Code: MCL/11
List Price: $25.00
Individual Price: $18.75
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Supplemental Materials
Mathematical Circle Diaries, Year 1: Complete Curriculum for Grades 5 to 7
Share this pageAnna Burago
A co-publication of the AMS and the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute
Early middle school is a great time for
children to start their mathematical circle education. This time is a
period of curiosity and openness to learning. The thinking habits and
study skills acquired by children at this age stay with them for a
lifetime. Mathematical circles, with their question-driven approach
and emphasis on creative problem-solving, have been rapidly gaining
popularity in the United States. The circles expose children to the
type of mathematics that stimulates development of logical thinking,
creativity, analytical abilities and mathematical reasoning. These
skills, while scarcely touched upon at school, are in high demand in
the modern world.
This book contains everything that is needed to run a successful
mathematical circle for a full year. The materials, distributed among
29 weekly lessons, include detailed lectures and discussions, sets of
problems with solutions, and contests and games. In addition, the book
shares some of the know-how of running a mathematical circle. The
curriculum, which is based on the rich and long-standing Russian math
circle tradition, has been modified and adapted for teaching in the
United States. For the past decade, the author has been actively
involved in teaching a number of mathematical circles in the Seattle
area. This book is based on her experience and on the compilation of
materials from these circles.
The material is intended for students in grades 5 to 7. It can be
used by teachers and parents with various levels of expertise who are
interested in teaching mathematics with the emphasis on critical
thinking. Also, this book will be of interest to
mathematically motivated children.
In the interest of fostering a greater awareness and appreciation of
mathematics and its connections to other disciplines and everyday life, MSRI
and the AMS are publishing books in the Mathematical Circles Library series as
a service to young people, their parents and teachers, and the mathematics
profession.
Titles in this series are co-published with the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI).
Readership
Teachers, parents, research mathematicians, undergraduate and graduate students interested in teaching extracurricular math to school children.