Just a quick newsletter to remind you about the free Fractal Christmas Tree resources over on the Think Maths website, as well as some gift ideas for your mathematical loved ones (or students).

The Fractal Tree was a big hit last year and we were sent some great photos of mathematics classes around the world building their own. We will compile the best photos from this year and put them up on the site! If your class makes one, however big and small, you can also send me a photo on twitter: @standupmaths.

And if you are looking for nerdy Christmas gift ideas, I have included a few of our products from Maths Gear below, as well as the Maths on Screen DVDs.

I hope the last lessons of term go smoothly!

Looking for some end-of-term lesson ideas? Get your students to build a fractal tree! You can even get four classes to build one each and then join them together for a huge mathematical tree.

We have made printable nets with instructions to make 3D fractals of both a Menger Sponge and a Sierpinski Tetrahedron. While these make great lessons any time of the year, if you make them out of red and green card respectively they can be combined into a fractal Christmas tree.

To finish it off, there is a cut-out for a Koch Snowflake star which sits perfectly on top of the tetrahedron.

http://think-maths.co.uk/downloads/building-3d-fractals

If your school does make a Fractal Christmas Tree, then please do email a photo of it to us: info@think-maths.co.uk. With your permission, we will put the best ones up on the site.

The maths toys on Maths Gear are often used as teaching resources (most items can be bought as class sets) but they are also great gift ideas.

For people who like games there is the SET card game, for people who like curiosities there are Shapes of Constant Width and for people who like to choose their own present, there are gift cards.

Unfortunately the Maths Christmas Crackers sold-out within 24 hours of going online. It looks like a lot of the other stock is also selling out, so the gift card might not be a bad idea!

Most maths teachers will be familiar with author Rob Eastaway's Maths Inspiration shows, at which Matt Parker has been a regular speaker. Six of these shows, all hosted by Matt, are now available to buy on DVD as a box-set, or as individual DVDs (one show each).

PS The Spring 2014 Maths Inspiration shows in Newcastle, Bristol, Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds, Nottingham and Canterbury are now open for bookings.

Matt and the Think Maths team are available to visit schools all over the UK, and provide a range of sessions on topics ranging from topology, number theory, and probability to magic and maths in popular culture. New talks and workshops are always in development, and some of our speakers offer their own sessions, based on their personal specialisms.  For a full, detailed list of the current selection of talks on offer, please contact info@think-maths.co.uk.

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