Aim : How can we use the Internet to help us learn more about Pythagoras and who he was?
Objectives :
- To obtain various biographies of Pythagoras
- To have a better understanding of what happened in the days when Pythagoras was alive
- To engage in interactive lessons about Pythagoras' theorem
- To prove why his theorem works and to be able to explain it in their own words
My educational goals :
To have students use the Internet as a source of valuable information
To have the students gain better knowledge of who Pythagoras was
To get students to see the man as he was
Materials :
Computers
Handouts with questions that will lead students to discover the world of Pythagoras
Pencils
Motivation:
For this first lesson, going to a new environment - the computer lab - will motivate students. Students will also be motivated by working with a partner in a nontraditional decorum to breach unknown concepts.
Internet Addresses Involved :
http://geocities.com/Athens/2092/paper1.htm
http://rit.edu/~flwstv/presocratic.html
http://perseus.tufts.edu/GreekScience/
Students/Tim/Pythag'sTheorem.html
http://cut-the-knot.com/pythagoras
http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=
1&pg=2&ti=761563435
http://historyforkids.org/learn/greeks/science/
math/pythagoras.htm
http://sunsite.ubc.ca/LivingMathematics/V001N01/
UBCExamples/Pythagoras/pythagoras.html
Instructional Procedure :
Students will be given a copy of the handout and will be asked to answer the given questions using the provided websites. Answers will be recorded and turned in for a grade.
Activity :
Using the first URL, find the answers to these questions:
True or False - Pythagoras was a vegetarian but wisdom trivia says that he sacrificed about 100 oxen because he was happy about discovering what has come to be known as his theorem
Describe the mystical symbolism of the Pythagorean Triangle and some important facts about the 3-4-5 triangle
Using the second URL, find the answers to the following questions:
What was Pythagoras' cult about?
What does this site say his greatest scientific success was?
What did he discover about the stars?
Using the third URL, answer:
What does this site say about what he did in his excitement of discovering the theorem, and how does it differ from the first URL?
- Write 10-15 sentences describing the life of Pythagoras. Include at least two of his mathematical accomplishments. Include some of his beliefs.
Using the fourth URL, put in your own words five out of the thirty-eight proofs of why Pythagoras' theorem works.
Using the fifth and sixth websites, compare the two biographies of Pythagoras. Note similarities and differences between the language of the two sites.
Use the seventh site to demonstrate how the theorem works. Watch the animation, and tell what happens to show that a 2 + b 2 = c 2
Closure :
Students and teacher will regroup and verify accurate information.
Homework :
Using your answer to question five in your worksheet, create a Venn diagram that compares the two biographies from the website.
Assessment Measures :
- Did students answer the questions properly?
- Can students explain the Pythagorean theorem?
- Can students demonstrate the Pythagorean theorem?
- Can students relay information concerning Pythagoras' biography?
|