Girls Excel in Mathematics

Girls Excel in Mathematics is a summer enrichment program for girls in 4th through 6th grade.  Students will participate in hands-on experiments and interactive activities led by instructors and university student mentors from the University of Minnesota. Our goal is not to accelerate students through standard curriculum, but instead explore fun mathematics topics, and get students excited about math.  Women make huge contributions  in the areas of Math and Science everyday but we often find that girls are discouraged from being involved with STEM curriculum while in school. We developed GEM in hopes of encouraging and exciting girls to participate in math and let them know that they are not alone in their love of it.  Available to girls in 4th through 6th grade with a love of math!  

Scholarships are readily available in cases of financial need.  Please contact our office if the cost of the programs would prevent your child from participating.

Workshop Logistics

  • Girls Excel in Math will be held on July 17th-19th
  • Students will meet each day from 9am to 3pm in Akerman Hall.  
  • About a week prior to the event, students will receive a reminder via e-mail with logistics including address and parking information.
  • Cost is $125 for the three day day event.

Girls Excel in Mathematics Topics

Fair Division

How do you divide a cookie fairly between two people? Three people? How do you split
up a pile of candy? What is a fair way to split up objects among groups of people?

Cryptography

Learn a variety of ways to write a message in a secret code - math and statistics are the cornerstones of modern cryptography!

Map Coloring

How many colors are necessary to color a map of the United States of America? What changes if our world weren't a sphere but shaped like a donut instead? We'll explore these questions and more with hands-on activities!

Kite Flying

Triangles are the sturdiest shape, so if we want to fly a sturdy kite, how should we make it? We'll work with triangles, higher dimensions, and (weather dependent) get to see our kites flying outside.

Fold and Cut Theorem

The Fold and Cut Theorem states that any shape (or disjoint union of shapes) that can be drawn with straight lines can be cut from a strategically folded sheet of paper with one single cut.  A shape or figure has a line symmetry when folding on that line causes the figure to lie completely upon itself.  

 

Family Agreement

By completing the Registration Form, student and parent(s) are confirming that they reviewed and discussed the following points.

Students...

  1. Must be prepared to have fun while learning mathematics!
  2. Must behave responsibly -- walk between classes, stay with your group, use a quiet voice while in class and on break, clean up after yourself, and respect the property of other participants, staff and the University.
  3. Must be respectful in words and actions to other students, teaching assistants and teachers. Students will respond respectfully to the authority of the teacher and teaching assistants. Instructors will not tolerate disruptive or disorderly behaviors that interfere with classroom instruction.
  4. Must follow instructions from enrichment leaders and event staff.

Parents...

  1. Must punctually drop-off and pick-up students.
  2. Understand that only a student registered for a program may attend that program's workshops.
  3. Understand that students with the following symptoms may NOT attend a MathCEP workshop: a fever over 100 degrees; coughing; a contagious skin rash; vomiting.
  4. Understand that participants who fail to respect or follow the above policies are subject to dismissal from MathCEP programs.
  5. Must agree that MathCEP has the right to take photos for the purpose of promotional materials.
  6. Understand there is a $30 administrative fee for refunds processed before the program begins and there are no refunds once the program begins.

Sign up for Girls Excel in Mathematics

Register for Girls Excel in Mathematics

Student wearing a pyramid shaped balloon hat
Group of four girls sitting at four desks pushed together
Girls sitting at classroom tables doing origami and eating snacks
Four girls standing side by side doing math problems on a chalkboard