• In this section:
• Puzzle sources
• Contacts
• Workshops and conferences

Puzzle Sources

Our puzzles section has a collection of math fair puzzles. In addition, there are several websites that have good math-based puzzles, some of which are directly useable in a math fair.

• Puzzles.com. This is Thinkfun's puzzle site. As well as puzzles, it has links to many other useful sites.
• That's a good problem. This is Galileo.org's math fair page. The puzzles here are organized by level. No solutions are provided.
• NRICH. This is one of Cambridge university's math enrichment sites, aimed at students for ages 5 to 19. The problems are arranged by levels or stage. Although they are good problems, many are more suitable for classroom activities than for presentation at a math fair.
• AIMS Puzzle Corner. A collection of over 100 math puzzles presented by the AIMS Education Foundation. Solutions are provided online.

Books

   

The English and French versions of the math fair booklet are available through the PIMS University of Alberta site for approximately CA $10.00. There is also a Spanish version (electronic copy only). Contact either Dana McCallum (danam@ualberta.ca) or Ted Lewis (tlewis@math.ualberta.ca).

The following books have been recommended by teachers who have used them as resources for math fair puzzles:

Below are more sources of problems and puzzles. Martin Gardner, one of our patrons, has written many excellent books on mathematical recreations (which was the name of his column that he conducted for years in Scientific American). We list some of his books below but recommend that you investigate many others. Most public libraries stock a good selection of his books.

Another excellent source of puzzles are the books by Dennis Shasha featuring Dr. Ecco. The majority of his puzzles are original, and are wonderful for high-school students. A recent book of his, listed below, includes puzzles that are accessible to students in the elementary and junior high or middle school grades.

We should also mention that quite a few of the problems in the collections by Brian Bolt are almost "math fair ready". From the point of view of sources of problems for math fairs, the ones listed here are probably his best.

 

Contacts

There may be someone in your area who has organized a math fair. Here is a list of people that would welcome an inquiry.

• Mike Dumanski, (DumanskiM@ecsd.net), Edmonton Catholic Schools.
• Tiina Hohn (hohnt@macewan.ca), SNAP, Edmonton.
• Indy Lagu (ILagu@mtroyal.ca), SNAP, Calgary.
• Ted Lewis (tlewis@math.ualberta.ca), SNAP, Edmonton.
• Andy Liu (aliu@math.ualberta.ca), SNAP, Edmonton.
• Bill Ritchie (BillR@thinkfun.com), SNAP, Virginia.
• Wen-Hsien Sun (ccmp@seed.net.tw), SNAP, Taipei.
• Tanya Thompson (tcthompson@hotmail.com), SNAP, Collingwood, Ontario.
• Jim Timourian (jgt@sassoun.com), SNAP, at large.
• Paul Vaderlind (paul@math.su.se), SNAP, Stockholm.

• Nicole Beaudoin (BeaudoinN@ecsd.net), Edmonton Catholic Schools.
• Paula Borgescouture (borgescouturep@ecsd.net), Edmonton Catholic Schools.
• Cathy Campbell (Cathy.Campbell@epsb.ca), Edmonton Public Schools.
• Sharon Friesen (sfriesen@ucalgary.ca), Galileo Education Network Association (GENA), Calgary.
• Robert Geretschlaeger (robert.geretschlaeger@brgkepler.at), Kepler Gymnasium, Graz, Austria.
• Lorelei Gibeau (gibeaul@ecsd.net), Edmonton Catholic Schools.
• Terry Godwaldt (Terry.Godwaldt@epsb.ca), Edmonton Public Schools.
• Gordon Hamilton (gamesbygord@gmail.com), Calgary.
• Daryl Jones (JonesD@ecsd.net), Edmonton Catholic Schools.
• Suhana Kadoura (suhana.kadoura@ocdsb.ca), Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.
• Jodi Mackey (Jodi.Mackie@epsb.ca), Edmonton Public Schools.
• Leanne Pouliot (pouliotl@ecsd.net), Edmonton Catholic Schools.
• Krista Poscente (kposcent@ucalgary.ca), GENA, Calgary.
• Chris Stroud (cstroud@wpga.ca), Vancouver.

Workshops and conferences

The SNAP foundation and its supporters have sponsored many math fair workshops in the past.

The workshops are intended mainly for teachers, but we welcome educators of all types. In previous workshops, participants have come from elementary schools, junior-high and high schools, from independent organizations, and from universities and colleges, and on some occasions have included expert puzzle and game creators.

Workshop participants learn about and try math-based puzzles and games that can be used in the classroom. Teachers have a chance to see how other teachers have organized math fairs at their schools, how the SNAP math fair fits the curriculum, and what some schools have done for follow-ups.

Upcoming workshops and presentations

April 3, 2009, Fields Institute, Toronto.
Contact Tanya Thompson (tthompson@thinkfun.com, tcthompson@hotmail.com) (Tel: 705.446.2334)

This is a one-day workshop with a demo math fair. The registration fee is $25.00 and it includes lunch.

April 24-26, 2009, BIRS, Banff.
Contact Tiina Hohn (hohnt@macewan.ca) or Ted Lewis (tlewis@math.ualberta.ca).

This is a two-day workshop held at the Banff International Research Station in Banff Alberta. It is intended primarily for teachers at the elementary, jr. high and high-school levels. The workshop is sponsored by BIRS, PIMS, and SNAP. It begins with a puzzle party on the evening of Friday, April 24, and ends at noon on Sunday April 26.

OAME 2009. Allison McGee and Cathy Gloade are giving presentations on SNAP Math Fairs: Thursday May 14th at 11:20AM and Friday May 15th at 9:55AM. For more details, go to OAME 2009, click on Program, then on Conference Program and search for McGee.

Presentations on SNAP Math Fairs: Thursday May 14th at 11:20AM and Friday May 15th at 9:55AM,

June 5-7, 2009, BIRS, Banff.
Contact Tiina Hohn (hohnt@macewan.ca) or Ted Lewis (tlewis@math.ualberta.ca).

This is a two-day workshop held at the Banff International Research Station in Banff Alberta. It is intended primarily for college and university teachers. The workshop is sponsored by BIRS, PIMS, and SNAP. It begins with a puzzle party on the evening of Friday, June 5, and ends at noon on Sunday June 7.

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