Who can join the Math Circle?
What does it cost to join the Math Circle?
When and where does the Math Circle meet?
Where is the best place to park on UNC’s campus?
What do I need to bring?
Who teaches the classes?
What if I have to miss a meeting?
How do I get on the email list?
I didn’t understand everything at the last session. Should I keep coming?
My child is mature for his or her grade and is several years ahead in math. Should he or she start in a higher level group?
Can adults attend?
How can I get involved as a volunteer?
How can I make a donation?
What are the benefits of attending a math circle?
How is the Math Circle different from Mathcounts and Mathletes?
Who can join the Chapel Hill Math Circle?
The Chapel Hill Math Circle is intended for students who like solving puzzles and challenging problems. For Fall 2022, we will have five levels: Moebius Noodles, for kindergarteners and first graders and their families, the Beginners Group, for grades 1 – 3; the Elementary Group, for grades 3 – 5; the Intermediate Group for grades 6-8; and the Advanced Group, for grades 9-12.
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What does it cost to join the Chapel Hill Math Circle?
The program is free.
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Can I join now?
Yes, you can join anytime. To register, please fill out the online registration form. Students will be admitted on a first come, first served basis until capacity is reached. If the program is full when you register, you will be placed on a wait list and notified when space is available.
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When and where does the Math Circle meet?
The Math Circle meets roughly two Saturday mornings per month during the school year. Check the calendar for meeting dates. All meetings are on UNC campus in Phillips Hall, usually in Phillips 206 and 208.
Moebius Noodles meets from 10:30 am – 11:30 am in Phillips 206.
The Beginners Group meets from 9:00 – 10:00 am in Phillips 206.
The Elementary Group meets from 9:00 – 10:00 am in Phillips 208.
The Intermediate meets from 10:30 am – 12:00 noon in Phillips 208.
The Advanced Groups meet from 10:30 am – 12:00 noon in Phillips 220 or 224.
Where is the best place to park on UNC campus near Phillips Hall?
There is visitor parking available in Swain Lot right across from Phillips Hall on weekends. Additional visitor parking is available in the Morehead Planetarium lot, a short walk from Phillips Hall. Most weeknight parking areas are available on Saturdays without a permit and usually without a fee. There are also public parking decks on Rosemary Street a few blocks away. Please allow extra time to find parking. Carpooling is encouraged!
The classrooms are on the main level near the front entrance to Phillips Hall.
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What materials do I need?
Students should have a pencil and paper available. Graph paper and colored pencils are often useful as well. If other materials are needed for a particular session, this will be announced in advanced by email via chapelhillmathcircle@googlegroups.com.
Who teaches the classes?
Maria Droujkova and Dmitri Droukov of Natural Math teach the Beginners Group and Mobius Noodles. Linda Green, a teaching faculty member at UNC, teaches the Elementary Group and the Intermediate Group with help from UNC math grad students and others. The Advanced Group is led by Will Davis and David Yavenditti, with help from other UNC undergraduate and graduate students. UNC student volunteers assist in the classroom. Some classes may be taught by guest speakers, including faculty members from NCSSM and UNC.
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How do I get on the email list?
Join the Chapel Hill Math Circle google group to get on the email list. Be sure to change the default setting of “No Email” to “All Email” or “Abridged” when you join.
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I didn’t understand everything at the last session. Should I keep coming?
Definitely! The material presented at the meetings is often non-traditional and challenging … sometimes even for mathematicians! If you understand even 50% of what goes on, that’s actually a lot. If you keep attending, you’ll find that your problem solving skills improve, you’ll start recognizing themes between sessions, and you’ll understand more and more of what goes on.
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My child is mature for his or her grade and is several years ahead in math. Should he or she start in a higher level group?
Many children in the program will be ahead of their grade level in math. With this in mind, we ask that your child try the group for his or her grade level first. Then, if you think a change is needed, please check with the director. Be assured that all students will be challenged.
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Can adults attend?
For the Moebius Noodles Group, we expect one or more parent(s) or other adults to attend with their child.
For the other groups, we need a few parent assistants to help. Please sign up on our volunteer form if you would like to volunteer on a regular basis. We have a limited amount of space in the classroom for parent observers who are not regular volunteers. Please check with the director or lead instructor. Local teachers are always welcome to observe; please email for details.
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How can I get involved as a volunteer?
UNC undergraduate students and graduate students are needed to assist in all the groups. All regular volunteers will need to complete a background check and training before working with minors. Please contact Linda Green at linda.green (at) unc.edu for additional information or sign up on our volunteer form. There will be an orientation meeting for volunteers (on UNC campus, in Phillips 206) on Saturday, Sept 3, 2022 from 10:30 – 12:00 pm.
We can also use a few parent assistants to help with administrative details, discipline, and one-on-one math instruction.
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How can I make a donation?
Please make a donation online to the UNC Math Department general (unrestricted) fund and mention the Chapel Hill Math Circle. Alternatively, you can write a check to the UNC Math Department, mentioning the Chapel Hill Math Circle on the comment line, and mail it to:
Department of Mathematics
UNC-Chapel Hill
CB #3250, Phillips Hall
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Donations are needed to pay for background checks for volunteers and for photocopying and supplies.
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What are the benefits of attending a math circle?
Math circles expose students to new topics that are not typically covered at school. Students who attend regularly will improve their problem solving skills as they wrestle with challenging problems that require deep thinking and creativity. A math circle is also a place for students to meet other students with like minds and interests.
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How are Math Circles different from Mathcounts and Mathletes?
Mathcounts and Mathletes are programs that center on competitive, timed contests. Problem solving at the Math Circle is collaborative — you’ll be working on problems together with your friends. Instead of solving a bunch of unrelated problems, Math Circle lets you explore new mathematical topics in depth. For example, one session may be entirely about 4 dimensional geometry. Another session may be about game theory.
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Chapel Hill Math Circle 