SoL Math Team (Grades 6-8)
Welcome!
Welcome to the Eagle Ridge Academy (ERA) School of Logic (SoL) Math Team page. This page is the starting place for all SoL Math Team activity information. If after reviewing the information here you have further questions, please contact SoL Math Team coach Mr. Stephen MacLennan via email at [email protected].
What Is SoL Math Team?
The SoL Math Team is a fun way for students in grades 6-8 to explore the wonders of mathematics in a supportive environment. SoL Math Team members ("mathletes") are introduced to and gain experience with both recreational (game-like) and standard ("school-like") mathematical topics. Multiple sessions (symposia, forums, and/or competitions, see below) are held each week.
Mathletes are encouraged to participate in the Minnesota Junior High School Mathematics League (MNJHML, hereafter referred to as "JH Math League"). The JH Math League season begins in September and extends into January, and includes 5 regular-season meets. [As of 19 August 2020, the JH Math League has not yet announced official details for the 2020-21; however, Mr. MacLennan is in contact with JH Math League organizers who say every effort is being made to conduct a JH Math League season.]
Each symposium (plural: symposia) features an introduction to and practice with a new mathematical topic, often recreational (game-like) in nature. It really could be just about anything - a true brain-storm: games (magic squares, matchstick puzzles), history and literature (Pythagoras the hippie, the funny logic in the story Alice in Wonderland), or interesting applications (earthquake measurement scales, parallel parking like a geometer). As the ancient Greeks knew (too?) well, almost anything goes in a symposium!
Each forum features an introduction to and practice with one or more competition mathematics topics typically present in JH Math League meets, so will call them Forum JH (for junior high). Here is where your standard algebra and geometry topics flex their muscles. Think forum = formal math. While we will explore short cuts for speed, we will examine why they work. "Tricks" without understanding are of limited usage and do not last long.
In addition, mathletes may choose to participate in national mathematics competitions, such as the American Mathematical Competitions AMC 8 (in November, for those in 8th grade and below) and AMC 10 (in late January or early February, for those in 10th grade and below) and Minnesota MATHCOUNTS (in February, also for those in 8th grade and below, which has ties to the national MATHCOUNTS program).
Note that due to the coronavirus situation all 2020-21 SoL Math Team sessions will be conducted online. [As of 19 August 2020, the AMC and MATHCOUNTS formats (online or in-person) have not been announced.]
Mathletes are encouraged to participate in the Minnesota Junior High School Mathematics League (MNJHML, hereafter referred to as "JH Math League"). The JH Math League season begins in September and extends into January, and includes 5 regular-season meets. [As of 19 August 2020, the JH Math League has not yet announced official details for the 2020-21; however, Mr. MacLennan is in contact with JH Math League organizers who say every effort is being made to conduct a JH Math League season.]
Each symposium (plural: symposia) features an introduction to and practice with a new mathematical topic, often recreational (game-like) in nature. It really could be just about anything - a true brain-storm: games (magic squares, matchstick puzzles), history and literature (Pythagoras the hippie, the funny logic in the story Alice in Wonderland), or interesting applications (earthquake measurement scales, parallel parking like a geometer). As the ancient Greeks knew (too?) well, almost anything goes in a symposium!
Each forum features an introduction to and practice with one or more competition mathematics topics typically present in JH Math League meets, so will call them Forum JH (for junior high). Here is where your standard algebra and geometry topics flex their muscles. Think forum = formal math. While we will explore short cuts for speed, we will examine why they work. "Tricks" without understanding are of limited usage and do not last long.
In addition, mathletes may choose to participate in national mathematics competitions, such as the American Mathematical Competitions AMC 8 (in November, for those in 8th grade and below) and AMC 10 (in late January or early February, for those in 10th grade and below) and Minnesota MATHCOUNTS (in February, also for those in 8th grade and below, which has ties to the national MATHCOUNTS program).
Note that due to the coronavirus situation all 2020-21 SoL Math Team sessions will be conducted online. [As of 19 August 2020, the AMC and MATHCOUNTS formats (online or in-person) have not been announced.]
Purpose
The stated goals of the Minnesota State High School Mathematics League ("Math League") are as follows:
- The Math League exists to identify students with exceptional interest and/or mathematical ability, give them recognition and encouragement, bring them together with similarly motivated students, and introduce them to topics not commonly taught in the high school curriculum
Information Session
The SoL Math Team information session is 4:30 pm Monday, 9/21, online via Zoom. Email Mr. MacLennan at [email protected] to express your interest and receive a Zoom invitation. If you miss the session, email Mr. MacLennan anyway and he will follow up with you and answer your questions.
Registration
Please read the following program information. Once you arrive at the noble decision to unleash your inner mathlete, register via the ERA Activities & Athletics page > Fall Athletics & Activities > SoL Math Team. Note: Do not register for the SoR Math Team (grades 9-12). The following information provides more detail than that available on the ERA website.
Who
ERA students in the School of Logic (grades 6-8).
When
The SoL Math Team season begins Monday, 9/21 at 4:30 pm with an information session, and continues through Friday, 2/26/2021. We know ERA students are busy and already have a math class. That's why all SoL Math Team sessions are optional. Mathletes attend as time and interest permit. Session duration is nominally an hour or less with days and times as follows:
Here is a sample weekly schedule. Again, all SoL Math Team sessions are optional.
- Forum JH: 4:30 pm Wednesdays beginning 9/23, online via Zoom
- Symposium: 4:30 pm Fridays beginning 9/25, online via Zoom
- Meets: 4:30 pm on five Mondays: [2020-21 dates have not yet been announced. Last season's dates were 9/30, 10/21, 11/11, 12/2, and 1/6.] All meets will be held online using a web-based competition application.
Here is a sample weekly schedule. Again, all SoL Math Team sessions are optional.
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
4:30 pm: Meet [5 meets; dates TBD] |
- |
4:30 pm: Forum (Competition Math) |
- |
4:30 pm: Symposium (Recreational Math) |
Where
All SoL Math Team sessions will be conducted online, via Zoom (.symposia and forums) or the JH Math League web-based application competition site.
Supplies
Required: paper, pencil(s), eraser, wi-fi connection, Zoom installed (free version is fine), curious brain
Optional: calculator, ruler, compass, family cell phone with GroupMe installed (for quick intra-team communication).
Optional: calculator, ruler, compass, family cell phone with GroupMe installed (for quick intra-team communication).
Cost
SoL Math Team is free; however, you must register to participate.
Can't Wait?
If you would like to explore JH Math League topics and problems, Mr. MacLennan invites you to access the JH Math League test archive, which includes past tests dating back to the year 2000. For a quick peak, here is the 2018-19 Meet 1 exam: