handsonmath.com began as the Center for Applied Geometry in Boulder, CO. September, 1994. Housed in the prototype 'Flys Eye Dome' designed by R. Buckminster Fuller, the center, headed by Charles Gronberg, launched its own design science revolution.

     The Fly's Eye Dome, on loan from the Buckminster Fuller Institute, Santa Barbara, CA. was an ideal venue to offer informal handsonmath geometric model building using paper-folding projects taken from Charles and Mary Gronberg's two books; Tetra-blocks and Modeling the Fly's Eye. For four days at the city of Boulder's New Renaissance Festival, adults and children alike discovered mathematics in a new way, through their hands and eyes.

     Over the next four years the Center For Applied Geometry developed and tested three additional model-building books; Great Circles, Closest-packing Spheres and Matrix. The tools and materials needed to actualize projects in these books were also refined and tested.

     Partnering with the Rapid City, SD Public Schools, the University of South Dakota and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Washington DC the books, tools and materials were tested in middle-school math and art classes, statewide Talented and Gifted programs, distance-learning via video networks and informal groups such as the American Girl Scouts.

     The AAAS fully endorsed the handsonmath education materials and financed venues to test market the curriculum on a national level via workshops and lectures with teachers, school administrators, librarians and community leaders such as the Urban League.

     In 1997-1998 the teaching materials were tested in the Minneapolis community of Lyn/Lake both at the Lehman Educational Center, West Lake St. and during summer art programs funded by the Lyndale Neighborhood Association. The Center's 'math art' drop in classes were among the most popular and regularly attended activities in the Neighborhood.

     The Center for Applied Geometry has evolved into handsonmath.com an e-commerce company whose mission is to support mathematics education by delivering, via the Internet, material and books which have been endorsed by educators at a national level.

    If you are interested in learning how to build these geometric manipulatives, and you would like more information on how to join. Please proceed to the Membership  page to review the benefits and pricing.