Math Circle
The Calvin University Math Circle is an opportunity for 6th–8th grade students (typically 11–13 years old) to engage with exciting problems and topics in mathematics. Meetings are led by a professor in the Calvin math department and typically begin with a warmup activity or game that leads into the day's problem or topic. The Math Circle seeks to generate enthusiasm for problem-solving in mathematics. Students also discover applications of mathematics and participate in a community that nurtures critical thinking, communication, and abstraction. If you have questions about whether Math Circle may be right for your student, please call or send email!
Time & Location
We meet at Calvin University in North Hall 276. Parking is available in Lot 5 (west of the engineering building) and Lot 6 (west of the aquatic center).
- 3:45–4:00 p.m.: setup and arrival
- 4:00–5:15 p.m.: main activity
- 5:15 p.m.: dismissal
Cost & Application
- Tuition is $80 per semester
- Registration is via Online Registration
- At the first meeting please bring a signed copy of the release and waiver form
Calendar (Winter 2024)
| DAY | TIME | ROOM | TOPIC | PRESENTER |
| Tuesday, January 30 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | The 2024 Challenge | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Tuesday, February 6 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Last One Standing | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Tuesday, February 13 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | One-Cut Figures | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Tuesday, February 20 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Multiplier Graphs | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Tuesday, February 27 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | New Recruits | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Tuesday, March 5 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Days of the Week | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Tuesday, March 12 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Skyscraper Puzzles | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Monday, March 19 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Take Away | Prof. Mike Bolt |
Calendar (Fall 2023)
| DAY | TIME | ROOM | TOPIC | PRESENTER |
| Monday, September 25 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Billiard Ball Challenge | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Monday, October 2 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Rectangle Math | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Monday, October 9 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Super Tangrams | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Monday, October 16 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Equal Side Sums | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Monday, October 23 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Three in a Row | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Monday, October 30 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Criss-Cross | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Monday, November 6 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Pascal's Triangle | Prof. Tim Pennings |
| Monday, November 13 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Pick's Theorem | Prof. Jan Koop |
Calendar (Winter 2023)
| DAY | TIME | ROOM | TOPIC | PRESENTER |
| Monday, January 30 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Number Bracelets | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Monday, February 6 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Water Jugs and UPCs | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Monday, February 13 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Modular Bracelets | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Monday, February 20 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Frogs and Toads | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Monday, February 27 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Folding Shapes | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Monday, March 6 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Four Numbers Game | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Monday, March 13 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Squares and More Squares | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Monday, March 20 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Ruler Game | Prof. Mike Bolt |
Calendar (Fall 2022)
| DAY | TIME | ROOM | TOPIC | PRESENTER |
| Monday, September 26 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Consecutive Sums | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Monday, October 3 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Mirror, Mirror | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Monday, October 10 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Taxman | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Monday, October 17 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Pennies and Paperclips | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Monday, October 24 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Amida-Kuji | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Monday, October 31 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Dragon Fractal | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Monday, November 7 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Fractals | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Monday, November 14 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Josephus Problem | Prof. Mike Bolt |
Calendar (Winter 2022)
| DAY | TIME | ROOM | TOPIC | PRESENTER |
| Monday, January 31 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Pentomino Puzzles | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Monday, February 7 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Pile Splitting | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Monday, February 14 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Four Fours | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Monday, February 21 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Bubbling Cauldrons | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Monday, February 28 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Mondrian Squares | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Monday, March 7 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Rational Tangles | Prof. Dave Klanderman |
| Monday, March 14 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Optimal Die | Prof. Randy Pruim |
| Monday, March 21 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Days of the Week | Prof. Mike Bolt |
Calendar (Fall 2021)
| DAY | TIME | ROOM | TOPIC | PRESENTER |
| Tuesday, September 28 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | New Recruits | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Tuesday, October 5 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Multiplier Graphs | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Tuesday, October 12 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Factors and Multiples | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Tuesday, October 19 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Last One Standing | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Tuesday, October 26 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | One-Cut Figures | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Tuesday, November 2 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Take Away | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Tuesday, November 9 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Skyscraper Puzzles | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Tuesday, November 16 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Domino Circles | Prof. Mike Bolt |
Calendar (Winter 2020)
| DAY | TIME | ROOM | TOPIC | PRESENTER |
| Monday, February 3 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Frogs and Toads | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Monday, February 10 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Amida-Kuji | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Monday, February 17 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Josephus Problem | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Monday, Ferbuary 24 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Folding Shapes | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Monday, March 2 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Pennies & Paperclips | Prof. Mike Bolt |
| Monday, March 9 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | Squares and More Squares | Prof. Jan Koop |
| Monday, March 16 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | *canceled due to pandemic* | |
| Monday, March 23 | 4:00–5:15 p.m. | NORTH HALL 276 | *canceled due to pandemic* |
Additional Info
The Math Circle is an enrichment activity that explores topics generally outside the regular mathematics curriculum. It is for 6th-8th grade students (typically 11–13 years old) who are interested in problem-solving and applications.
Program directors are Professors Mike Bolt (mdb7@calvin.edu) and Jan Koop (kooj@calvin.edu).
The Calvin University Math Circle was formed in Fall 2017 and is supported by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, the Office of the Provost, and the Office of College Access Programs.
Math Circles originated in Russia in the 1930s, appeared in the United States in the 1990s, and are promoted by the National Association of Math Circles. Nearby circles include the Michigan Math Circle (Ann Arbor, MI) and the Maize & Blue Math Circle (Dearborn, MI).