I am a high school (formerly middle school) math teacher and built a math/writing unit around the abacus for my 8th graders. The tech teacher in the building worked with kids to cut parts for a home-made abacus for each student. We used small dowel rods, wooden wheels (for cars) as the beads, and small nails (brads) to fasten the frame together.

The scenario was that students worked for a marketing firm and had to develop a brochure to describe how to build an abacus from the "kit," and then how to use it to add. It was then to be marketed as a "summer travel toy."

The first day was a bit noisy, as each student built their own abacus, but the results were good and students seemed to enjoy the project.

I can provide you with more information if you're interested.

I've really been enjoying your site ... I discovered it through taking a "Build your own website" course, and I'm working on using grant money to get a computer projection system for my classroom. I'd love to share your goodies with my freshmen (that's all I teach this year).

Several years ago I published an article in Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School (May '97) on the algebra behind a card trick. You may enjoy taking a look at that ... it'seems to fit in with the Math-attitude of your site!

Thanks so much for a great gift to mathematics, teachers, and students!

E. Bradley

>I can provide you with more
>information if you're interested.

I shall appreciate it very much if you do. I am extremely curious about what's going on in the field, so to speak. I mean on the other side of the computer screen in front of which I spent most of my time.

(I posted your question and my reply to the new Guest book forum:
https://www.cut-the-knot.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/forumctk.cgi. If you decide to write again, please continue the thread - it may be of interest to other visitors.)

>I've really been enjoying your site
>... I discovered it through
>taking a "Build your own
>website" course, and I'm working
>on using grant money to
>get a computer projection system
>for my classroom. I'd
>love to share your goodies
>with my freshmen (that's all
>I teach this year).
>

Many thanks for the kind words. Please let me know if I could be of any assisstance.

>Several years ago I published an
>article in Mathematics Teaching in
>the Middle School (May '97)
>on the algebra behind a
>card trick. You may
>enjoy taking a look at
>that ... it'seems to
>fit in with the Math-attitude
>of your site!

I shall at the first opportunity.

All the best,
Alexander Bogomolny