You are invited to take part in the eleventh RIMTA Student Math Fair. The Rhode Island Mathematics Teachers Association has been delighted with the response to the contest in previous years and is greatly looking forward to this year’s contest. Work on this project may begin immediately and may continue to the May 10 contest date. Students will present the findings of their projects during a two-and-one-half hour judging session. Each student attending the fair will receive a complimentary lunch, and each student attending the awards ceremony immediately following lunch will receive a memento of the event.

five teams per grade level per school may display projects at the fair.

optional). Projects may be no higher than six feet high and three feet wide.

8:30 - 9:00 a.m. Project Setup

9:00 - 11:30 a.m. Judging (exhibits closed to the public)

11:30 - 1:00 p.m. Student Lunch and Public Viewing

1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony (parents welcome)

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For FURTHER INFORMATION or SPECIAL NEEDS, contact

Catherine Boutin at (401) 822-8445 or cboutin@westwarwickpublicschools.com

In the late 1700’s, our Founding Fathers started a new nation based upon a radical method of choosing leaders: democracy. The year 2008 will be an important year for our nation, with federal, state, and local offices up for election. While there is obviously a great deal of history and social studies involved with elections, would it surprise you to learn that there is a great deal of mathematics involved with elections and democracy in general? For instance, how many people need to vote for a presidential candidate in order for him or her to win an election? What’s the most efficient way for a candidate to spend his or her time or money? How have voting preferences changed over the years? These are only three questions, but mathematics can be found throughout the electoral process.

Start by brainstorming about how mathematics can be related to elections and politics. Once you have done your brainstorming, narrow down your selections and develop a plan. Be as specific as possible. Do the mathematics that is used in your field if possible. Try to run experiments, surveys, or simulations. Create a unique topic and title for your project. USE YOUR IMAGINATION!!!

Create a display to support your findings. You can draw pictures, write paragraphs, build models-whatever it takes to explain how mathematics is used in democracy.

Your work should fit on a folding display board no more than 6 feet high and 3 feet wide. Your names should appear clearly on the back of the board. Judging will be held on May 10, 2008, at Roger Williams University in Bristol.

Judging Criteria will include:

*Clarity of the Presentation

*Creativity

*Mathematical Accuracy

*The Ability to Show How Math Is Used in Democracy

Teams must be registered by March 7, 2008. Send this form with a $25.00 registration fee per team. If you are volunteering to judge the event, the registration fee is only $20.00 per team. Please make checks payable to RIMTA. Registration fees are non-refundable. Remember that only five teams per grade level per school may register. Teachers: please fill out the form yourselves instead of having your students do so.

If you would like to forward the names of the participants at a later date, please indicate that below. All names must be submitted by April 11, 2008 by mail or e-mail. When sending student names, please write the names as they should appear on the participation certificates that the students will receive. If you are sending more than one team, please feel free to photocopy this sheet.

Faculty Advisor________________________________________

School_______________________________________________

School Address________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

School Phone______________Home Phone__________________

E-mail Address_________________________________________

Are you interested in being a judge? ______YES ______NO

Will this project need electricity? ______YES ______NO

Print Name Grade

2.___________________________________________________ ___________

Print Name Grade

3.___________________________________________________ ___________

Print Name Grade

4.___________________________________________________ ___________

Print Name Grade

5.___________________________________________________ ___________

Print Name Grade

__________I will forward the names of participating students by April 11, 2008.

Mr. Stephen Levesque

637 South Main Street

Woonsocket, RI 02895

For FURTHER INFORMATION or SPECIAL NEEDS, contact

Stephen Levesque at (401) 398-1644 or LEVES314@cox.net