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Dan Finkel

@mathforlove.bsky.social
1.4K followers 220 following 273 posts

Founder, Math for Love, mathforlove.com. Dedicated to giving everyone a chance and a reason to fall in love with mathematics. Curriculum writer, game developer, speaker, teacher of teachers.

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Reposted by Dan Finkel
David K Butler @davidkbutler.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Two stages of a pattern blocks design between two mirrors, at #100factorial yesterday. The designer was unsatisfied with her first design, wanting a bigger triangle to fill the corner next to the orange square. I suggested making a bigger pink triangle out of four smaller ones and off she went.
A pattern block design between two angled mirrors so that the design is reflected around making something like a snowflake. It uses blocks in many colours and shapes.The previous design has been extended to the mirrors and out beyond the mirrors so that the reflections make it very very large. Several areas parts are made of multiple of the same shape joined together.
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David K Butler @davidkbutler.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
An unexpected use of the upscale pattern blocks at #100factorial yesterday @mathforlove.bsky.social
A tower made of green wooden triangles. Each layer is made of four triangles: three standing on their sides and one flat on the tops of the three points. Each layer uses smaller triangles than the layer below.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I signed this petition, and if early numeracy is something you care about, you should think about signing it too :-) __________________________ When kids play, we all win. Games help kids build math skills. Let’s get every kid playing. Learn more and sign the petition: weareallsolvers.org/aap/
weareallsolvers.org
National Guidance on Early Numeracy - We're All Solvers
Early numeracy has no national guidance. It should. Join governors, researchers, educators, and pediatric professionals calling on the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Surgeon General to gi...
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
This is really worth reading
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Reposted by Dan Finkel
David K Butler @davidkbutler.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Before the second game we arranged the cards by number of distinct prime factors (or by number of different colours if you like).
An arrangement of the Prime Climb cards into five blocks. 
The very far block in the distance just has the grey 1. 
The next block is three and a bit rows of 10 wide and each card has only one colour. Mostly red, then several yellow and a scattering of green, blue and purple.
The next block is five and a bit rows of 10 wide and each card has two colours. All five colours are represented many times.
The next block is only row of nine cards and each card has three different colours.
The final and nearest block is just the black 0 card.
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David K Butler @davidkbutler.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Bodyscale Prime Climb at #100factorial yesterday. We arranged the cards in an Ulam spiral first to see what that looked like with the coloured cards.
A rectangle of laminated A4 cards laid on the floor. Each card has a circle with a number in it and the circle is divided into some number of coloured sections. The nearest corner has 80 with four yellow sections and one blue section, then 81 with four green sections, then 82 in the corner with one yellow and one red section, then 83 on the next edge with one red section, then 84 with one blue, one purple and two yellow sections. To the side of 82 not part of the main rectangle is a black card labelled Start and 0. Six people stand on six of the cards, though you can only see their legs.The same set of Prime Climb cards from a distance and from above. Four people stand on the cards and one is walking across them. Another stands to the side watching. One more person stands on the other side holding a board with spinners. Some people are wearing coloured fabric sashes.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Holy Gahbajoly. An internal OpenAI model may have just solved a Millennium problem. 🤯 openai.com/index/navier...
openai.com
On the Navier–Stokes Millennium Prize Problem
We’re sharing an AI-generated solution to the Navier–Stokes Millennium Prize Problem, including a writeup and a formal proof in Lean.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Here's a fun problem from Polya: 72 turkeys cost $ _67.9_ >What are the missing digits? >How much does a single turkey cost? (Note - the price for a turkey is going to look wildly out of date) #iteachmath
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Some folks reached out to me recently with small bespoke websites featuring riddles, math-y games, etc., lately. AI makes this kind of stuff easier to produce than ever. Do you think there's a place for it? I'll share some...
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
The August Mindbender (Jumping Pegs) from @3blue1brown.com @momath.bsky.social and others is basically a perfect puzzle. Simple, unexpected, and with (I assume) many, many ways to approach and solve it. momath.org/mindbenders/ I'll need to check out all the puzzles in this series!
momath.org
Monthly Mindbenders – National Museum of Mathematics
National Museum of Mathematics: Inspiring math exploration and discovery
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Robert Kaplinsky @robertkaplinsky.com · 22/08/2026
Looking for some challenging math riddles for your students? These 25+ problems were created by Dan Finkel from Math for Love for TedEd. Check them out here: ed.ted.com/search?utf8=%E2%... They're lots of fun to use with your students.
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John Golden @johngolden.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
This week's Weekly Wonders from earlyfamilymath.org/weekly-wonder/ and @mathforlove.bsky.social are all nice Nim variations. Like Factor Nim quite a bit. #mathgame
Factor Nim, pick a number, subtract a factor to get a new number, zero loses.
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MathHappens Foundation @mathhappens.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
This was so much fun. Our run ended a July 31 but we are adding even more Math Rooms this fall.
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Mike Deutsch @mdeutschmtl.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Maybe not what they were thinking of, but Tiny Polka Dot is on my gift list for little ones who enjoy mathy thinking. mathforlove.com/games/tiny-p...
mathforlove.com
Tiny Polka Dot - Math For Love
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
"It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be fun!" Love this #earlymathvideo from STEM Utah! @earlyfamilymath.bsky.social www.youtube.com/shorts/94Kqk...
youtube.com
MILO + Friends: Using Math Language at Home
YouTube video by STEM Utah
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
I don't agree with Bret Stephens very often. I do here. Machines can lift more than we can. We don't use them to lift weights for us when we go to the gym. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | I’m Begging You: Never Write With A.I. (Gift Article)
It’s bad for your brain and worse for democracy.
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Edward Vogel @mathartforall.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
"Manipulatives make Deep Work more Accessible" - words to thrive by. And there is so much more. Read this blog post.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
If anyone still reads long blog posts, I just wrote a reflection on our pilot project with Seattle Public Schools of last year. It was kind of an amazing collaboration. #iteachmath #mtbos mathforlove.com/2026/08/who-...
mathforlove.com
Who Deserves the Good Stuff? - Math For Love
A reflection on our pilot project with Seattle Public Schools to provide appropriate math challenges for gifted kids in general-ed classrooms
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NCSM: Leadership in Mathematics Education @mathedleaders.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
We're proud to help share COUNTED OUT, an award-winning documentary by Vicki Abeles that asks an urgent question: how do we reclaim our mathematical confidence in the age of AI? Saturday, August 8, 2026 1:00 PM PT / 4:00 PM ET RSVP: bit.ly/CountedOutAug8
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David K Butler @davidkbutler.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Pattern block and joined mirror designs made by the university students at the O’Week One Hundred Factorial sessions this week.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Side project update! I'm having a ridiculously good time working with my brothers on a new board game, Battle of the Species. We'll be Kickstarting it soon! My older brother had the brilliant idea to have our artist make cards featuring us. I quite like how mine turned out!
Playing card from the Game Battle of the Species, featuring one of the creators, Dan.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Just learned that Lucas invented the Towers of Hanoi and was the first person to write down the rules of Dots and Boxes. (Died from sepsis from an accidental scratch from a broken plate! Crazy. Tough living pre-antibiotics.) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89d...
en.wikipedia.org
Édouard Lucas - Wikipedia
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Michael Pershan @mpershan.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Hey! I wrote something about teaching and Dan wrote something back. What year is this, 2012? (Read Dan's thing, it's interesting.)
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Michael Pershan @mpershan.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
I wrote about how @hpicciotto.bsky.social makes such wonderful (and useful) mathematical activities. substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
How Henri Picciotto Designs Great Lessons
Learning from one of the best to ever do it.
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Christopher Danielson @triangleman.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Math On-A-Stick sign ups are live! www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F44AB...
signupgenius.com
Math On-A-Stick 2026 Volunteers
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN VOLUNTEERING AT MATH ON-A-STICK IN 2025!  We need your help to make this year's Math On-A-Stick another successful venture! Each summer, more than 250 volunteers fill al...
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Wow - a cool local decor store stocks our games. And Rolly Poly is on an incredible sale there right now! digsshowroom.com/products/rol...
digsshowroom.com
Rolly Poly Game | Math for Love
The Rolly Poly Game from Math for Love is a fun, physical, collaborative, number-learning family game! Start playing in less than a minute. Includes high-quality cards, wooden counters and a giant, pl...
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benjamin dickman @benjamindickman.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
I did this in Summers 23, 24, 25. I even did a final presentation the last go-round! docs.google.com/presentation... All of this to say: This is a great program to participate in! For all levels & schedules. Click Justin's post below and learn a lil more and/or reshare it! #iTeachMath ♾️🧮 #MathSky
docs.google.com
21st Century Math [2025] Explorations from Fibonacci Nim
Explorations from Fibonacci Nim Ideas, Wonders, and Unresolved Problems Inspired by the 21st Century Mathematics 2025 Program Benjamin Dickman, Ph.D. || K-12 Mathematics Chair & Teacher Department of ...
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UK Maths Trust @ukmathstrust.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Problem of the Week 177! Please do not comment the solution so others can work it out too. Instead, like this post or comment a thumbs up if you think you have the correct answer! The solution will be posted in the comments on Thursday afternoon. #Problem #UKMT #Maths
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
This book is ridiculously good.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Reposting with a hearty endorsement :-)
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Molly Rawding @mollyrawding.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
#ChoralCounting in 1st Grade...total joy! What do you notice? What do you wonder?
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Howie Hua @howiehua.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
It's Mental Math Monday! Is 15.99/3.99 greater than 4, less than 4, or equal to 4? How are you thinking about it?
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Hana Murray @murrayh83.bsky.social · 31/05/2026
Looking back at some of the shapes and designs from my pattern block play in May! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath
This image shows pattern block designs arranged in a 4 by 4 grid, with the center four squares merged to highlight a larger design. It shows 13 unique pattern block creations from my pattern block play in May.
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little john @littlejohn.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
Yesterday @bagofmoons.bsky.social almost choked laughing when she saw a middle-schooler wearing a T-shirt like this, but to me the funniest part...
Product photo of a t-shirt that has a couple of cartoon watermelon slices and the text: "MATH - The only place where people buy 66 watermelons and no one wonders why"
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Christopher Danielson @triangleman.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Pattern bracelets! cc @nhoskee.bsky.social talkingmathwithkids.com/blog/pattern...
talkingmathwithkids.com
Pattern Bracelets | Talking Math With Your Kids
I have been thinking about patterns for a long time, occasionally making progress in understanding how children learn to identify and think about patterns. Overall, it is slow going. There isn’t nearl...
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
This is a fun one. Not even sure if it’s possible to nail down the answer with certainty!
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Hana Murray @murrayh83.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Pattern block play! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath
The main image shows a radial design created with 21st Century Pattern Blocks. It was built by arranging six octagons around a central star. The central star is made of six teal kites, six blue rhombuses, and twelve green triangles. The first image along the bottom shows the octagon used in the design. The octagon is made of four blue rhombuses, four gray darts, and sixteen teal kites. It also shows various stages of the design along the bottom and on the right side of the image.
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Hana Murray @murrayh83.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Pattern block play! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath
The main image shows a radial design created with 21st Century Pattern Blocks. It was built by arranging six octagons around a central star. The central star is made of six gray darts, six blue rhombuses, and twelve pink triangles. The first image along the bottom shows the octagon used in the design. The octagon is made of one yellow hexagon, two pink triangles, three gray darts, four blue rhombuses, and fourteen teal kites. It also shows various stages of the design along the bottom and on the right side of the image.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
This is such an excellent video, in large part because Howie actually gives concrete examples of different versions. And guess what? We have different things that might be called Discovery Learning, and some seem like a huge waste of time, and others seem fantastic.
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Howie Hua @howiehua.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
My thoughts on discovery learning in math
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Hana Murray @murrayh83.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
Pattern block play! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath
The main image shows a radial design created with 21st Century Pattern Blocks. It was built by arranging six octagons around a central star. The central star is made of six gray darts, six blue rhombuses, and twelve pink triangles. The first image along the bottom shows the octagon used in the design. The octagon is made of four blue rhombuses, four pink triangles, four gray darts, and fourteen teal kites. It also shows various stages of the design along the bottom and on the right side of the image.
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Hana Murray @murrayh83.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Pattern block play! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath
The main image shows a radial design created with 21st Century Pattern Blocks. It was built by arranging six octagons around a central star. The central star is made of six teal kites, six blue rhombuses, and twelve green triangles. The first image along the bottom shows the octagon used in the design. The octagon is made of one yellow hexagon, two blue rhombuses, six teal kites, eight gray darts, and ten red trapezoids. It also shows various stages of the design along the bottom and on the right side of the image.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
The folks at @earlyfamilymath.bsky.social math and I put together this Math Bingo board to give families fun ideas to play with math this summer! Share with your teacher, library, families you work with if you think they'd use it! (Built for ages 3 - 8.) mathforlove.com/2026/05/math...
mathforlove.com
Math Bingo! - Math For Love
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
This is a fascinating take on a potential explanation of a graphic.
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Hana Murray @murrayh83.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Pattern block play! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath
The main image shows a radial design created with 21st Century Pattern Blocks. It was built by arranging six octagons around a central star. The central star is made of six gray darts, six blue rhombuses, and twelve pink triangles. The first image along the bottom shows the octagon used in the design. The octagon is made of four gray darts, eight teal kites, eight pink triangles, and twelve blue rhombuses. It also shows various stages of the design along the bottom and on the right side of the image.
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Hana Murray @murrayh83.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Pattern block play! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath
The main image shows a radial design created with 21st Century Pattern Blocks. It was built by arranging six octagons around a central star. The central star is made of six gray darts, six blue rhombuses, and twelve pink triangles. The first image along the bottom shows the octagon used in the design. The octagon is made of three blue rhombuses, seven gray darts, ten pink triangles, and ten teal kites. It also shows various stages of the design along the bottom and on the right side of the image.
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MathHappens Foundation @mathhappens.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Very excited to celebrate the work and our amazing partners!
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
I feel like this is math finally getting top billing.
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Dan Finkel @mathforlove.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Anyone passing through Times Square see this awesome display from @mathhappens.bsky.social? Pretty cool to see 21st Century Pattern Blocks up there 😀 #iteachmath
A billboard for Math Happens in Times SquareA billboard for Math Happens in Times Square
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Hana Murray @murrayh83.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Pattern block play! #21CenturyPB #iTeachMath
The main image shows a radial design created with 21st Century Pattern Blocks. It was built by arranging six octagons around a central star. The central star is made of six teal kites, six blue rhombuses, and twelve green triangles. The first image along the bottom shows the octagon used in the design. The octagon is made of one yellow hexagon, two red trapezoids, four gray darts, ten blue rhombuses, and ten teal kites. It also shows various stages of the design along the bottom and on the right side of the image.
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