Saturday Morning Math Enrichment

MathCEP is currently offering Saturday Enrichment classes for students in grades 5-7. Each program encourages participants to explore mathematics and its scientific applications from different perspectives based on specific mathematics themes.

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.

Saturday Morning Math for 5th and 6th Graders

Events

Voting Theory
November 11th 2023, 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Learn why our voting system - which is used to choose everybody from our country's president to your school council - is flawed. What alternative methods could we use? Are any of them better?

Taxicab Geometry
December 2nd 2023, 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Explore how a different method of measuring distances has surprising consequences for geometry.

Cryptography
January 20th 2024, 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Learn a variety of ways to write a message in a secret code - math and statistics are the cornerstones of modern cryptography!

Geometric Counting
February 24th 2024, 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Learn how geometric objects can lead to number patterns. Explore perfect, square, and triangular numbers, and investigate their connections to other real-world problems.

Pi Day
March 16th 2024, 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Pi is a mathematical constant equal to the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter - and this ratio is the same for any circle! Celebrate Pi day with us and learn more about this amazing number.

Saturday Morning Math for 6th and 7th Graders

Events

Game Theory
November 11th 2023, 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Learn the mathematics of conflict and cooperation to think strategically and win games, such as the Prisoner's Dilemma.

Shorter, Faster, Cheaper
December 2nd 2023, 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
We've seen how Euler used graphs to map out walks through the city of Konigsberg, but did you know that graph theory is also behind the Traveling Salesman Problem and Google's page-ranking algorithm?

Coding Theory
January 20th 2024, 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Did you know that "1+1=0"? Explore how cell phones, computers, and satellites use this strange fact to send messages and defeat static.

Exploring Math & Music
February 24th 2024, 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Even though it seems like math and music are very different, it turns out they use the same part of the brain!

Workshop Logistics

Program workshops are held on specific Saturday mornings in Folwell Hall on the University's Minneapolis campus (East Bank).
About a week prior to each event, students will receive a reminder e-mail with further information.
Check-in for each workshop is from 9:15 to 9:30 a.m. in front of Folwell Hall (the South East corner of Pleasant St SE and University Ave). A typical workshop schedule includes an introduction and overview from 9:30 to 9:45 a.m., activities from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., a short social break, continued activities from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m., and closure, cleanup, and evaluation until dismissal at noon. The student/instructor ratio at workshops is approximately 10:1.
Cost: $180 for the series of five events

Family Agreement

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

Per University policy, students, faculty, staff, and visitors, are required to wear a well-fitted mask indoors, regardless of your vaccination status.

Students...

Must be prepared to have fun while learning mathematics!
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.
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.
Must follow instructions from enrichment leaders and event staff.

Parents...

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