Author: Erik Lokensgard

Ropes: Giant Knitting

Crochet and Knit for Math and Coral Reef Conservation

A few years ago, I learned how to crochet and knit, inspired by a lecture by mathematician Dana Taimina, and taught by friends. Through Taimina’s lecture, I learned about The Coral Reef Project. You can watch Margaret Wertheim’s TED talk here. As I love to climb, it seemed only natural to experiment with knitting and crocheting using climbing ropes.

How to Make Giant Knitting Needles

How to make giant knitting needles using tape, candle holders, and garden stakes (purchased in Boulder, CO at Greenwood Wildlife Thriftshop and McGuckin Hardware, where people were super friendly and helpful):

makinggiantknittingneedles

Thanks to Green Guru for donating used climbing ropes.

Virtual Participation Quiz

Are you looking for ways to inspire the students in your class to work together better? To work as a team, and lean in, asking each other questions and helping each other out?

One way to encourage this kind of teamwork is to give students a “participation quiz” using this website. Best practice is to start out just writing the positive things the groups/teams are doing. Thanks to Mr. Pinsky who I believe wrote the code, and to Heather Beiss, who kindly shared the link with the teachers at my school:

http://mrpinsky.github.io/