Christmas+Ornaments

[|Party Time in the Math Room] Inspired by a visit to the Museum of Science and Industry display of “Christmas Trees Around the World”, 1996, these ornaments are direct applications of mathematical concepts. The ornaments function as manipulative teaching devices whether the instructor displays and describes a finished ornament or the student constructs an ornament. A brief history, description, application, or function is provided for most ornaments as well as suggestions for interdisciplinary connections. In the presentation, overhead transparencies of diagrams and sketches complement these written instructions. Source materials referenced in the instructions are listed in the bibliography.
 * Scandinavian Christmas Tree
 * Tri-Plane Diamonds
 * Adjusting Octagon Stars
 * Dutch Translucent Paper Stars
 * Unit Origami Balls
 * Snowflakes
 * Rose Windows
 * Scherenschnitte, Christbaumschnitte, Faltschnittebander, Polish wycinan
 * Weaving Swedish Hearts
 * German Folded Stars
 * Japanese Birds
 * Temari Balls
 * Gyroscopic Ornament (Concentric Circles)
 * Moravian Herrnhut star
 * Mexican Cascarons
 * Chinese New Year Dragons

[|A String of Numbers] The instructions suggest making a necklace, but I think this would make an interesting garland for a tree. You could use the digits of pi, perfect squares, Fibonacci numbers, multiples of a certain number to make the patterns.
 * CRAFT MATERIALS: ||
 * [[image:http://familyfun.go.com/Resources/familyfun2005/images/COMMON/bullet_small.gif width="4" height="4"]] || Paper and pencil ||
 * [[image:http://familyfun.go.com/Resources/familyfun2005/images/COMMON/bullet_small.gif width="4" height="4"]] || Calculator ||
 * [[image:http://familyfun.go.com/Resources/familyfun2005/images/COMMON/bullet_small.gif width="4" height="4"]] || Tape ||
 * [[image:http://familyfun.go.com/Resources/familyfun2005/images/COMMON/bullet_small.gif width="4" height="4"]] || Elastic beading thread ||
 * [[image:http://familyfun.go.com/Resources/familyfun2005/images/COMMON/bullet_small.gif width="4" height="4"]] || Pony beads in several colors ||

[|Tessellation Sensation] These instructions would have to be tweaked a little to make an ornament, but this shows a neat way to make tessellations. Maybe decorate stockings or fold into a certain 3-D shape?
 * CRAFT MATERIALS: ||
 * [[image:http://familyfun.go.com/Resources/familyfun2005/images/COMMON/bullet_small.gif width="4" height="4"]] || Green construction paper ||
 * [[image:http://familyfun.go.com/Resources/familyfun2005/images/COMMON/bullet_small.gif width="4" height="4"]] || Ruler, pencil, and scissors ||
 * [[image:http://familyfun.go.com/Resources/familyfun2005/images/COMMON/bullet_small.gif width="4" height="4"]] || Cookie cutter (any symmetrical shape that fits in a 3-inch square will do) ||
 * [[image:http://familyfun.go.com/Resources/familyfun2005/images/COMMON/bullet_small.gif width="4" height="4"]] || Blue poster board, 12 by 18 inches ||
 * [[image:http://familyfun.go.com/Resources/familyfun2005/images/COMMON/bullet_small.gif width="4" height="4"]] || Glue stick ||

[|Triangular Construction] Create a tetrahedron out of toothpicks and gumdrops. This would be a great ornament!

[|Christmas Tree Decorating - Math Style] Raymond Park Middle School in Indiana celebrated the season by making polygon graphic organizers shaped like Christmas trees, 3-D shapes, and fractional measurement trees of felt and buttons.

**Christmas ornament** paper folding activity **...** mathforum.org/t2t/discuss/index.taco?start_at=841 I couldn't get this link to work. Try again later!

[|Printable 3-D Shapes]

The regular polyhedrons can make interesting ornaments, and are relatively easy to make from card stock or file folders:

tetrahedron - 4 equilateral triangles cube - 6 squares octahedron - 8 equilateral triangles dodecahedron (my favorite) - 12 regular pentagons Icosahedron - 20 equilateral triangles

[|Origami Cubes] This activity has students making paper folds to make a cube. During the process of folding, each quadrilateral will be identified and attributes will be listed. The cubes can then be used as Christmas ornaments.

[|Hexaflexagon]