Math in the Gym
Teach Circus, Learn Math.
Concept
Mathematics is often taught as symbols on a page, but many of its core ideas are fundamentally about movement. Patterns like circles, waves, and rotations can be seen and felt through the body. Math in the Gym explores how physical motion can make abstract concepts tangible, allowing students to experience mathematics rather than only describe it.
Experience
In Math in the Gym classes, students use poi to explore mathematical patterns through guided movement. As the poi trace paths through space, ideas such as sine waves, phase shifts, and rotational symmetry emerge naturally from the motion. This approach connects mathematics, coordination, and play, creating an environment where learning is active, visual, and embodied.
The work has been shared through workshops, classrooms, and a TEDx talk, and is supported by a developing workbook that helps educators bring these ideas into their own teaching.
Explore
Math in the Gym can be experienced through workshops, school programs, and educator training sessions. These offerings provide practical tools for integrating movement-based learning into classrooms and physical education spaces. Whether you are a teacher, student, or organizer, this work offers a way to approach mathematics through curiosity, creativity, and the body.