Topics

Sep

It’s a Math World After All

by Joyce McGreevy on September 8, 2020

Schools & libraries minus students times pandemic = many variables in where we learn.
Andrew Tan/ Pixabay

Math Connections Across Cultures

Every September, billions of students around the world go back to school. But in 2020, “back to school” favors logging on from home. Fortunately, remote learners can still enjoy everybody’s favorite subject—math.

Oh, it’s not your favorite? Well, before you count math out, please join me on a virtual math field trip. No masks, no calculus required.

We’re off to discover how people have made math connections across cultures. We’ll count on traditional number systems and weigh in on the world’s most unusual units of measurement. We’ll even collect souvenirs—cross-cultural math tips that quickly translate equations into solutions. Read more...

Joyce McGreevy Comments

Cultural Diversity/Worldwide Sites

Aug

Name That Finger: Digit-al Wordplay

by Meredith Mullins on August 31, 2020

A pentadactyl adventure
© Meredith Mullins

The Cultural Traditions of Finger Names Around the World

The finger has a long history. No, not THAT finger—that one that always seems to come to mind first.

The finger in the broader, pentadactyl sense. The five fingers of the hand.

We humans aren’t the only folks in the world with fingers. Many in the animal kingdom have five-fingered limbs, from monkeys and apes to rats and bats to pandas and birds. Read more...

Meredith Mullins 2 Comments

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/Language & Culture/Wordplay/Worldwide Sites

Aug

Blue Spaces Cure the Blues

by Joyce McGreevy on August 24, 2020

A blue lake under a blue sky, Elk Lake, Oregon, inspires the author to reflect on personal and cultural beliefs about water, including the blue mind and blue spaces theory. (Image © Rayna Bevando)

Personal & Cultural Beliefs About Water

In this high-heat, high-stress summer, how are people finding relief? Emails from friends around the world offer a common response. Read more...

“. . .the great thing about the island is that you’re almost always in sight of the sea.” —Waiheke, New Zealand
“ . . .it’s cold getting in, but your body soon adjusts, and you feel your mood lifting with the waves.”—Cork, Ireland
“ . . .in the evenings, we stroll, following the flow of the Arno and stopping at bridges to admire the reflected city.”—Florence, Italy

Joyce McGreevy 2 Comments

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/Nature Discovery/Worldwide Sites

World Views: