Math Circle Junior

The Math Circle Junior program at Louisiana State University is designed for elementary school students who have a passion for math and problem-solving. Our program offers a fun and engaging environment where young learners can explore mathematical concepts through interactive activities and hands-on experiences. Each session focuses on developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills, encouraging students to approach math with curiosity and creativity. Join us for an exciting journey into the world of math, where learning is both enjoyable and intellectually stimulating!

Registration for the 2026–27 school year is now closed due to the large number of registrations we have received.

Families may still join our mailing list by completing the registration form . By joining the mailing list, you will receive announcements about upcoming Math Circle Junior meetings and future registration opportunities.

If you have previously registered in a past semester, there is no need to register again.

Junior Math Circle Classes

For Fall 2026, the Junior Math Circle is organized into three classes: Class 1A, Class 1B, and Class 2.

• Class 1A (New): a new class for younger students in grades 2 - 3, who are beginning our Math Circle program. This class is based on Math Adventures with ORMC, Level 1: From Optical Illusions to Fighting Dragons.
• Class 1B: the continuation of the Class 1 group from last year. The Class 1 curriculum(for students in grades 2 - 4) is designed as a two-year program, so students who participated in Class 1 last year generally continue together in Class 1B this year. .
• Class 2: classes for students in grades 4 - 6. This class is based on Math Adventures with ORMC, Level 2: Ciphers, Functions, and Geometry of Time.

Math Circle classes are not intended to correspond directly to the regular school mathematics curriculum. Many Math Circle students may already be studying school mathematics above their grade level, but this does not necessarily mean that they should be placed in an older Math Circle class.

Students should normally begin in the age-appropriate class.

Meeting Schedule

(Upcoming schedule) Fall 2026: Sundays, 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Sep 13 (Class 1A (NEW) leader: Krishnendu Kar; Class 1B leader: Huong Vo; Class 2 leader: Arif Ali)

Sep 27 (Class 1A (NEW) leader: TBA; Class 1B leader: TBA; Class 2 leader: TBA)

Nov 1 (Class 1A (NEW) leader: TBA; Class 1B leader: TBA; Class 2 leader: TBA)

Nov 15 (Class 1A (NEW) leader: TBA; Class 1B leader: TBA; Class 2 leader: TBA)

Nov 22 (Class 1A (NEW) leader: TBA; Class 1B leader: TBA; Class 2 leader: TBA)

Location

Level 1A(NEW) class @ 244 Lockett Hall; Level 1B class @ 243 Lockett Hall; Level 2 class @ 240 Lockett Hall. Free parking in front of building.

Past Meetings in Spring 2026

Feb 8 (Level 1 leader: Han Nguyen ; Level 2 leader: Laura Kurtz )

Feb 22 (Level 1 leader: Dr. Kevin Schreve ; Level 2 leader: Huong Vo )

Mar 8 (Level 1 leader: Krishnendu Kar ; Level 2: Math Kangaroo problem solving )

Mar 29 (Level 1 leader: Saumya Jain ; Level 2 leader: Huong Vo )

Apr 26 (Level 1 leader: Laura Kurtz ; Level 2 leader: Remi Mandal )

Past Meetings in Fall 2025

Sept 7 (Level 1 leader: Han Nguyen ; Level 2 leader: Laura Kurtz )

Sept 14 (Level 1 leader: Krishnendu Kar ; Level 2 leader: Huong Vo )

Sept 28 (Level 1 leader: Remi Mandal ; Level 2 leader: Dr. Alexander Perlis )

Oct 14 (Level 1 leader: Han Nguyen ; Level 2 leader: Laura Kurtz )

Nov 2 (Level 1 leader: Krishnendu Kar and Huong Vo; Level 2 leader: Remi Mandal and Yixing Miao )

Nov 16 (Level 2 leader: LSU GeauxTeach Team )

Nov 23 (Level 1 leader: LSU GeauxTeach Team and Saumya Jain; Level 2 leader: LSU GeauxTeach Team )

People

We’re grateful to a wonderful group of graduate students who volunteer their time to run Math Circle sessions: Saumya Jain, Krishnendu Kar, Laura Kurtz , Remi Mandal, Yixing Miao, Han Nguyen, Huong Vo

We also thank our colleagues Dr. Alex Perlis and Dr. Kevin Schreve for giving wonderful lectures, as well as Rebecca Nguyen, Sarah Rispone and Zane Whittington’s GeauxTeach teams at the GeauxTeach Program for their valuable help and support.

Faculty Sponsor: Frank Neubrander

Faculty Coordinators: Rui Han , Fan Yang

Past group leaders: Kaylen Dillard, Caroline Donahue, Koby Guidroz, Mya Mitchell, Noah Smardo, Dylan Spedale.

Upcoming: American Math Competition 8 on Sunday, Jan 25, 2026

Registration fee: $10. Please contact us at mathcirclemiddle@lsu.edu to register.

The American Mathematics Competition 8 (AMC 8) is a prestigious 25-question, 40-minute multiple-choice test for students in grades 8 or below that assesses problem-solving skills in topics like geometry, algebra, and proportional reasoning.

Questions?

Email us at mathcirclejunior@lsu.edu.

Help out

If you are a Parent, Teacher, a math faculty or graduate student interested in volunteering, please contact us here mathcirclejunior@lsu.edu.

The LSU Math Circle Junior program is sponsored by the LSU Gordon A. Cain Center, LSU Math Department , and NSF-DMS-2143369.

Past Activities

Sunday, Apr 27, 2025: Math Festival.

Sunday, Mar 23, 2025: Pi Day and Circle Folding.

Sunday, Feb 16, 2025: Seven Bridges of Königsberg.

A long time ago, in a city called Königsberg (it's called Kaliningrad now), there were two big islands in the middle of a river, and they were connected to the rest of the city by seven bridges. People loved walking around the city, and one day, someone asked a super cool question: "Is it possible to take a walk that crosses each of the seven bridges exactly once, without crossing any bridge twice?" It became a fun puzzle that stumped everyone in town! Can you figure it out?

Saturday, Nov 16, 2024: Math Festival.

Saturday, Oct 26, 2024: Skyscrapers.

Get ready to build your very own city skyline with the Skyscraper Game! Use the clues around the edges to place buildings of different heights in each row and column. The numbers tell you how many skyscrapers you should see from each view, so taller buildings hide the smaller ones behind them. Think you can create the perfect city layout?

Saturday, Oct 19, 2024: Game of Set.

In SET, your goal is to find groups of 3 cards that match or are totally different in every way! Each card has different shapes, colors, and numbers. Look closely and spot the "SET" before anyone else! It's a fun puzzle for your brain—can you find it first?

Saturday, Oct 5, 2024: Cup Stacking.

Cup Stacking is a game created by the Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival. The objective of the game is to start with a row of cups and, by following specific rules for moving them, finish with all the cups stacked into a single pile.

Bring your friends and have fun!

Photo Gallery

Disclaimer: LSU Math Circle Junior is a public event where parents/guardians are expected to provide supervision of the minors in their custody.