Math For New Years

It is time for the New Year and most schools are not in session but these activities would be good as a way to let the students ease into the school year after being off for a couple of weeks.  So I found a couple activities that focus on New Year's itself.  

First off is one from Yummy Math on the Times Square ball, the one that is dropped at midnight in New York City.  The ball is actually a geodesic icosahedron covered in Waterford crystal triangles.  The activity allows students to examine the ball in more detail. It includes a three page worksheet to do and has a video students can watch to see how a truncated polygon happens. 

There is also an activity from Yummy Math that looks at the year of the rat from January 2022.  Although it is a lunar new year, it can be used to show that different groups may have their year begin at a different point and explains more about Chinese culture.  In this activity, students learn more about the Chinese calendar and how it works.  Students have the opportunity to figure out which New Year it is for 2023 to 2028 or so. They learn the patterns used and so much more.  At the end, they get to answer questions about the calendar and the New Year based on their work.

Another site has several worksheets which are great for the New Year.  Some of the worksheets listed on the page are free and some you need to be a member for.  I'm only reviewing the free ones. For instance, one asks students which discount is better when you buy fireworks or party supplies.  This worksheet is made for younger students so I would ask students to show via mathematics that their answer is correct.  This would add an element of communications. 

The other activity for this site has students practicing identifying reflection by placing the dot in a new location after it was reflected over the x-axis or y-axis.  Both worksheets have answer sheets available so students can check their own work. 

Finally is a short video on the the math of time zones and how they work in regard to celebrating the New Year.  If you watch television, you'll start celebrating with Times Square and continue each hour until you reach your region's celebration. So you have several options to explore various aspects of the New Year in your math class.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.