What visual math patterns can we see in giraffe coats? Students observe visual geometric patterns on giraffes' coats to pose geometric rules for different giraffe species. Coat patterns can be used to categorize species of giraffes in their natural habitats and even at the Dallas Zoo!

Can you measure animal behavior to learn how different animals live? Students understand how humans can help animals, like the elephant, "Gypsy" featured in this video, by observing and measuring behavior in a systematic way using ethograms?

What math patterns can we discover in the ways that penguins use their nests in South Africa? Students learn how human impact on the environment has affected the materials penguins need to lay their eggs. The Dallas Zoo explains how thousands of engineered nests across South Africa are used to determine the months when penguins lay eggs.

What determines where leaves are positioned on branches? Students explore how leaves are arranged in an angular pattern to maximize their exposure to sunlight because leaves produce food for their plants during photosynthesis.

Which recipes uses more chiles? Students learn to make a salsa using 2 different recipes. Ratios and proportions can help determine which recipe will be more spicy, even though the ingredients are the same.

How can we estimate the amount of produce in a garden? Students use the amount of space a plant needs to grow and the area of a single space to determine how many marigolds can grow in rectangular plot at the Dallas Arboretum trial garden.

What geometric patterns can we identify on a leaf? Students study the branching patterns of veins on leaves found at the Dallas Arboretum. These repeating geometric patterns are called fractals, and leaf fractals are similar in shape regardless of their size on the same plant.

How many students can fit in the chapel when observing social distancing regulations? Students use measuring tools and estimation skills to find the maximum capacity of the St. Phillip's Community Center chapel if each masked student is required to be 3-feet apart.

What's the scale factor used in the blueprint of the St. Phillips Community Center welcome center foyer? Students find the length of the dimensions of the floor plan of the foyer. Using ratios, they compare those measurements with the actual measurements of to calculate the scale factor.

This video from the Frontiers of Flight Museum poses the question, "What does it mean to 'circumnavigate'?" Students learn about Amelia Earhart and her attempt to circle the globe along in a great circle manner.

While learning the historical contributions of Black U.S. servicemen during WWII, called the Tuskegee Airmen, you can also learn about their notorious "red-tailed aircrafts." In this video, you will learn about rotational symmetry to understand how these aircrafts were designed!

In 1968, the Apollo VII circled the orbited the earth 163 times in a little over 10 days. The command module housed the 3-person crew during lift-off and learning, but why is it shaped like the dimensional shape of a cone with its point cut off? This video explores the concept of surface area to create friction.

In 2004, Spaceship One was able to fly 62.5 miles above the earth's surface. How was this possible? Because Spaceship One’s wings were designed to to fold 70-degrees upwards mid-flight. This video explores how surface area is maximized to generate more air resistance.

Mathematics is a language to describe what's happening around you. Two people can observe the same object or place but through their own math lenses, they can come up with many different questions. These new video series teach students how to pose their own questions while participating in the Mathfinder project.

Geometric Shapes & Transformations

Noticing the properties of shapes in objects around us can help us understand the world. This video provides a basic set of starter questions related to geometry topics, like area or volume, in the place you are in right now.