Native American Geometry
EDUCATION
NATIVE AMERICAN GEOMETRY FOR TEACHERS
Introduction
The site represents a combination of the newest technology with the
oldest: the computer + two poles and a stretched rope (and its analog, the
compass and straightedge).
This is a program dedicated to children and their educators, parents and teachers. It is also an introduction for adults who would be interested in knowing the fundamentals behind one of the purest forms of learning, and one of the most ancient sciences,
geometry. For those who have been searching for an easily apprehended order underlying the structure of the universe, you are in the right place. For those who believe no such order exists, prepare to test those beliefs.
This is not the geometry you learned in high school: no theorems, no postulates, no structured proofs. Of course they can all be applied, but they are not necessary, only optional. In fact, no understanding of math is required at all to explore and enjoy
the material. The only requirement is that you try all this on paper, with your hands on a compass and ruler, not the keyboard. With a little practice, you may want to take it outdoors and brighten up the yard or the school grounds. Anything you can do wi
th pattern puzzles and geo-boards can be done with this program. And since students are not hindered by the manufactured scale of these educational tools, creativity is unlimited.
The principles and examples shown are but a slight scratch on the surface of a vast universe of creativity and logic, wisdom and science. As long as you follow the rules, whatever art you do can be broken down to mathematics on many levels.
BUILT-IN MATHEMATICAL CONCEPTS
The program is designed as a hands-on artistic introduction to math and science for Grades 4-9. The connect-the-dot exercises generate perfect, equal-sided polygons. From the material contained in these exercises, you can find BUILT-IN examples of famil
iar mathematical concepts that are required learning through 9th Grade in an integrated and harmonious context. Some tests are provided to illustrate these concepts, and in time more will probably be supplied. But for now, regard the list below as an adu
lt version of "finding the kitchen implements in the barnyard setting" exercises you pass out to your students.
Some of the things you will find.
- Patterns & art, symmetry, proportions, geometric constructions & problem solving.
- Point, line, line segment; diameter, radius, chord, circle, center, arc.
- Polygons: triangle, square, rectangle, hexagon, pentagon, octagon, decagon, dodecagon, parallelogram, trapezoid, rhombus, sphere, cube, quadrilateral, pyramid.
- 2- dimensional and 3-dimensional figures
- Intersecting lines, intersecting arcs, intersecting circles, Venn diagram; bisection and bisecting lines; perpendicular bisectors.
- Parallel and perpendicular lines; oblique, diagonal; horizontal and vertical lines. Length, width, area, surfaces, faces, edges, vertex, congruent angles; corresponding side; base, height, perimeter.
- The 360-degree circle; Protractor skills, angles, right angle; acute & obtuse angles; central and interior angles, supplementary and complementary angles.
- Congruent vs. Similar.
- Fractions: 1/2s, 1/3s, 1/4s, 1/5s, 1/6s, 1/8s, 1/10s, 1/12s, 1/16 s.
- Translation of irrational numbers from 16ths to 10ths, from inches to centimeters.
- Proportional Constants, Decimals, Irrational numbers, Square roots, Pi, Phi, Squaring numbers.
- Symbolic sentences for describing a vast range of math relationships.
- The skills to construct and explore examples of each term in natural geometric contexts first introduced as art.
Contact
Earthmeasure.Com
E-mail: Chris Hardaker
Copyright 1994-2000, Chris Hardaker