Welcome to P³

Patterns, Problems and Puzzles!

The P³ (we call it P Cubed) Club is intended to be an enrichment group that supplements the math that our children are learning in their classrooms.  The goal is to increase our kids enthusiasm about math and to even create a buzz that spreads the idea that solving problems, doing math, finding patterns is fun!  P³ does this by exploring mathematical concepts, problem solving skills, logic reasoning, and pattern discovery by working as a group and individuals to solve problems and even playing games.

It is not intended to be a way to improve WASL scores or to prepare for Math competitions.

Location

Einstein Elementary Library every Wednesday at 5:30 PM for 1 hour.

Activities

Each week we will spend time looking at patterns, problems, or puzzles.  This will be done using the overhead projector or handouts.  We will try many approaches where we work on problems as a whole group, smaller groups or individuals.  There will be handouts for the kids to take home and work on at home.  Each meeting we will go over the problems on the handout.

Meta Problem

There will be a problem that will be given out in pieces.  It will be in the style of a treasure hunt or a scavenger hunt.  Each week if a student brings in any previous take home handout where they have solved (or at least attempted to solve) the problems on the handout they will be given a portion of the meta problem that corresponds to that handout.  With enough pieces of the meta problem the student will be able to solve the problem to find ????

Game Day

The last meeting of each month will be game day!  On this day we will bring in games that are related to developing skills related to arithmetic , problem solving, and logical reasoning.

Organizer

Troy Barnes is leading this effort.  He has a daughter, Cassidy, in Mrs. Benzel's class and a daughter, Kendall in Mrs. Locke's Kindergarten class.  Contact Information:

Work Email: troy.barnes@microsoft.com

Home Email: troydbarnes@hotmail.com

Mobile Phone: 206-484-8702

Home Phone: 425-882-4906

Work Phone: 425-706-7062

Parent Involvement

This will be a lot of work depending on how many students are involved.  Since this is simply a volunteer effort I would love to get help from parents of the participants.  I am looking for people to help with

• Maintaining Order

• Answering questions

• Curriculum Ideas

• Managing game night

• Language - translation if needed

• Other stuff that I am sure I am forgetting

I want say thank you to the parents that already have offered to help.  For those of you interested please contact me so we can get you involved.  Use any of the contact methods above to reach me.

Español

Soy capaz de hablar un poco de español. Si desea participar, pero están preocupados por no saber inglés o de matemáticas, por favor no dejes que te paren. Voy a trabajar con ustedes para que sea una experiencia muy agradable para usted y para su hijo.