Maths of Churches, Mosques, Synagoges and Temples

Jenny Gage, University of Cambridge [read Jenny's biography]

Summary

conference logo

Project Ideas

First videoconference: 14 May, 2008, 10.30am start
Second videoconference: 23 June, 2008, 10.30am start

This conference is aimed at 12-14 year-old students. The cost is £180 for up to 40 students, more pro rata (costs can be split between more than one school if they are at the same VC centre).
This conference will consist of two linked VCs with project work to be done in school between the VCs.
More information about our conferences

A previous presentation of this topic can be seen at Maths of Churches, Mosques, Synagogues and Temples, 2007.

Places of worship can provide us with a rich source of mathematical activity. In this conference, we will look at geometrical construction, symmetry and pattern and the role of symbols in both maths and places of worship.

Examples will be shown during the first videoconference, and images for study will be provided on our website, but it would be a great advantage for students to combine their work on this topic in the classroom with one or more visits to local places of worship, so that they can discover mathematical links for themselves and use these to motivate their project work. This would also link well with the RE curriculum topic on places of worship.

For further information, contact Jenny Gage at jag55@cam.ac.uk. To reserve a place on this conference, go to Get involved! and contact Adrian Cullum-Hanshaw, 01223 764106 or 0774 703 5984, to arrange a videoconferencing connection test.

Schools with a place or on the waiting list

Equipment and resources required for VC1

Jenny Gage's presentation in VC1

Students will need:

  • plain paper
  • isometric paper
  • compasses
  • pencils
  • rulers
  • erasers
  • black felt tip pens for display work
  • a flipchart or similar which you can stick students' work to to display to other participants

Project Ideas

Worksheets for tiling patterns

The main project work for this conference is for you to make a visit to one or more local places of worship. As you walk round, look for symbols, look for mathematical ideas. When you find a religious symbol, think about how the mathematical properties of the shape contribute to the religious symbolism. If you can visit make more than one visit to places from different religions, that will help you to make comparisons between them. And make sure you use your imaginations to find your own maths!

Treat the ideas below as suggestions to get you started:

Additional resources