What is a Math Circle? A math circle is basically a guided tour of some ideas that are, to most people, not what they would consider mathematics. Each session will consist of one or more explorations, and will start with some questions for the students to explore as a group or solo or in small groups. The goal is to iterate in a collaborative process of discovery: observing and writing down patterns as we pursue these questions, and then asking more questions; to make guesses and hypotheses; and when we can, to even prove them.
The goal is not to race or to compete**, but to be thoughtful, collaborative, inquisitive -- so students at all levels are welcome. We generally will not require any mathematical knowledge beyond arithmetic, but the occasional algebraic concept will pop up, and a basic knowledge of geometry (not formulas, just names of things) is useful. However, all the students do need to be able to work collaboratively and respectfully and stay on task.
(**However, math students who enjoy problem solving and competition usually also enjoy math circles because the content is novel, interesting, and can go deep quickly.)