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Emory Math Circle registering for fall 2023
The Math Circle program at Emory University is now registering for its fall 2023 classes.
Math Circle is an enrichment program for middle-school and high-school kids who enjoy mathematics and want to explore topics beyond what’s taught in their regular math class at school.
Classes meet twice a month on Saturdays. Classes will begin as soon as this Saturday, September 9. Note that students can join a class after it has started, if space is available. Each session is independent of the others, so students who start late don’t need to worry about catching up on material they missed. Registration for this semester will remain open until September 23.
Classes will be offered both in person and online.
You can get more information and register at the Math Circle website.
Emory Math Circle is free to attend, but the program operates with the help of donations, and they suggest a donation of $30 per child for those who can afford to give.
Problem-solving competition for grades 5-9
Future Problem Solving Program International has announced a two-week problem-solving competition for students in grades 5-9.
The World Solutions Challenge will first introduce students to FPS’s six-step problem-solving process. It will then give teams a real-world problem and ask them to develop a solution, which they will describe in an “action plan.”
Judges will review the action plans and select winners, who will receive up to $500 cash and a paid team registration for a Future Problem Solving program in their area.
Regardless of whether they win a prize, participants will get an introduction to the Future Problem Solving experience. I’ve been intrigued by FPS, but I don’t have any direct experience with it. If you have a student who is curious about how community problems can be tackled with innovation and teamwork, give it a look, either by trying out this two-week challenge or by visiting the Georgia FPS affiliate, which operates year-long competitions for students in grades 4-12.
Registration for the World Solutions Challenge is open through September 12. Students can compete as individuals or in teams of up to four people. The registration fee is $25 per team member.
(Note: After I published this post, I heard from someone whose kids have done FPS. She offered to talk with anyone who wants to know more about the program. If you want me to put you in touch, reach out to me via the Contact page and I’ll connect you.)
Girls in Engineering group at Georgia Tech
Applications are now open for the Girls in Engineering program to be held at Georgia Tech this November.
Participants will attend the program for two weekends, Nov. 4-5 and 11-12. They will learn about the engineering design process through lectures and hands-on activities. They’ll also tour the campus, meet students and faculty, and get information about the college application process and scholarships.
The program is limited to 20 high-school girls. There is no cost for those who are selected, and girls who attend all four days will receive a $100 stipend.
Emory to host math festival September 2
Emory University’s Math Circle program will host a Julia Robinson Math Festival next Saturday, September 2.
The event targets middle- and high-school students who love math. Students go from table to table, trying out a range of games and puzzles which tend to focus on math concepts more than numerical computation. I attended this event with my kids some years ago, and found it to be challenging yet approachable and fun.
The math festival will be held in the atrium of the Math and Science Center from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Families are welcome to drop in late and/or leave early.
Admission to the festival is free; however, advance registration is requested.
Georgia Tech September workshops for grades 2-12
Registration is now open for the September 23 sessions of K.I.D.S. Club and STEAM Workshop at Georgia Tech.
K.I.D.S. Club is open to students in grades 2 through 5. STEAM Workshops are for students in grades 6 through 12. Workshops cover a variety of topics in physical science, computing and engineering.
Cost to attend is $65 per student. Need-based scholarships, funded by the Georgia Department of Education, are available. Visit the CEISMC BOOST Scholarship page to learn more about scholarship eligibility and submit an application.
Citizen science: Pollinator census, today and tomorrow
I do love the citizen science projects, so of course I’m going to post about the Great Southeast Pollinator Census, which is happening today and tomorrow.
To participate, you’ll spend 15 minutes watching any plant that attracts insects. You’ll tally the number and types of insects that visit during that 15 minutes, then enter your counts through the census website.
Want to know more? Watch this three-minute video overview.
The census project was created by the University of Georgia. It’s open to residents of Georgia and the Carolinas.
For 2E* bookworms: sensory-friendly book shopping in Decatur
Little Shop of Stories book store in downtown Decatur is hosting a “low sensory shopping experience” for children with sensory sensitivities on Sunday, September 10, from 11 a.m. to noon. They’ll turn down the lights, keep the noise level low, and offer individualized attention from their staff.
If you want to attend, you must register in advance.
I can personally recommend Little Shop of Stories as a fantastic independent bookstore. They have a vast selection of children’s books, from board books through young adult novels. Their staff are extremely knowledgable about children’s literature and enjoy recommending a child’s next great read.
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* Wondering what 2E means? It’s an acronym for “twice exceptional,” and refers to individuals who are both gifted and learning or developmentally disabled.
A guide to talent search programs
Since Duke TIP closed its doors three years ago, I’ve been on the lookout for other talent search programs for students in our area. Thankfully, today I found out about a list of talent search programs all over the United States, published by the Davidson Institute.
Details provided for each program include the ages served, the qualification requirements, and what type of programming they provide. Out-of-state programs on weekends for younger kids probably won’t be of much use, but some of the programs have online classes, and summer programs outside the southeast might be worth considering for older kids.
Georgia Tech spring workshops and summer camps
Registration is open now for a slew of programs at Georgia Tech, from Saturday morning workshops to summer camps.
- Spring break STEAM camp for grades 6-8, April 3-7 (details in my post from February)
- K.I.D.S. Club for grades 2-5, various topics, Saturday, April 15, 9 a.m. to noon
- STEAM Workshop for grades 6-12, various topics, Saturday, April 15, 9 a.m. to noon
- Virtual STEAM Whistle Workshop for grades 6-8, app and game development, Saturday, April 15 (This session is full. You can join the waiting list, but the odds of a spot opening up are slim.)
- First Generation College Institute, residential program for rising 8th to 12th graders, June 23-25. This is an introduction to scholarships, financial aid, campus life, etc., with some STEM learning sessions during the weekend. The program is for prospective first-generation college students. Cost is $25, which includes housing and all meals. Registration deadline is April 10.
- FBI InfraGard Cyber Security Camp, summer program for rising 9th to 12th graders, June 12-16. Students will learn about technology, engineering and cybersecurity in classes taught by experts from the FBI, Georgia Tech, and private companies. Application deadline is March 25 at 5 p.m. Students will be selected based on their applications. To find details, go to the main Summer P.E.A.K.S. page and scroll down to find Cyber Security Camp.
- Summer P.E.A.K.S. day camps for rising 4th to 12th graders, various STEM topics, June 5 to July 28.
Georgia Tech has available funding to give scholarships for in-person programs. If a student qualifies for free or reduced price lunch at their school, they are likely eligible for a BOOST Scholarship.
Spring break day camp at Georgia Tech
The CEISMC program at Georgia Tech will offer a day camp for students in grades 6 through 8 the week of April 3-7, 2023.
Students sign up for each day separately, so they can attend anywhere from one day to the full week. Each element of STEAM — science, technology, engineering, arts and math — will be highlighted one of the five days.
The camp will meet daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A fee of $100 per day covers camp activities, all needed materials, lunch and a snack. Extended care is available until 5 p.m. at no extra charge.
To find out more about the camp and to register, go to the main CEISMC student programs page, scroll down to the section called “Quick Registration Links for STEAM Workshops,” and look for the listing called “Spring Into STEAM: Spring Break Camp.” Click on the “Details” button on the right to bring up a window that describes each day’s programming. The Details window also contains a registration button.
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