Subject(s): Science; Mathematics, English Language Arts

Learner Outcomes:

• Students will discover tessellations around them in nature.
• Students will discover tessellations in architecture.
• Students will download and convert tessellations to be used for their kaleidoscopes.
• Students will alter their original tessellations to be used in their walk-through kaleidoscope.
• Students will make a kaleidoscope of their own.
• Students will work in teams to build a walk-through kaleidoscope.

Time Frame:

3-50 minute class periods

Materials:

Computer access to Internet, worksheet on molecular structure, mirror tiles, duct tape, sturdy cardboard or paneling, paper towel rolls, transparency film, markers, paint, and beehives.

Technology Tools/Courseware:

1.  The Molecular Center
2.  Library of 3-D Molecular Structures
3.  TesselMania Software
4.  Great Buildings
5.  Microsoft Word

Students should already have had some time on molecules, and they should already have done their tessellation lessons #2, #3.  Students should be divided into groups of no more than 4 for the making of the kaleidoscope.

Procedures:

Teachers inform students that the pictures and materials that they find in these are to be used in Lesson #5.  The PowerPoint lesson is a group effort and uses all of the findings from Lessons #1, #2, #3, and #4.

• Using the first two websites, students are to read information about molecules. Teacher is to reinforce the idea of tessellations and how they are shown in the real world.  Stress what items do tessellate.  Are those in the real world? (triangle, rectangle, or hexagon)?
• Students are to find three molecules that appear to tessellate and save on diskette.  Write a report about each molecule including information about the type and where it is found.  Teacher stresses where the molecules are found and can do extensions on combinations of molecules.
• Students are to go to the Great Buildings  site and find tessellations that are man-made in architecture.  Students save 3 and choose 1 to write a summary about the structure and how tessellations are used.  Students verify what shape was tessellated and was it used in combination with 1 or more shapes.
• Using the AIMS worksheet, students design a kaleidoscope of their own.
• Connect to the following site Kaleidoscope, and students work as a team to make a walk-through kaleidoscope.

Modifications:

The "Duck Into Kaleidoscope" can be modified for high school by using paneling instead of cardboard and the mirror tiles may need to be larger.  Teachers may want to group students with different abilities together so they can assist each other.  Some students will be more inclined to work independently, and the teacher should take that into consideration to a point.  All students should work in a team at some point in this project.
 

Enrichment Activities:
 
 

These pictures and others can be downloaded and used for the PowerPoint presentations as well as a report on the aspects of tessellations.  Students may also choose to build a structure, such as a bridge, using tessellations.  They may choose to design and make a quilt or other type of clothing using tessellations.  The teacher and students may choose to start a beehive in the classroom that would allow for the experience of seeing an ecosystem in action as well as the aspect of a tessellation in nature.  The kaleidoscope project can be modified to build different types of kaleidoscopes.  Bridges can be built using tessellations.  Using weights, students will find that triangles are the strongest.  Other structures can be built in the technology classes on and off the computer.
 

Evaluation/Assessment:

Students will receive some credit for "doing" each part of the project.
Assessment#4 allows for those who have put extra effort in the project to earn more points.

IGO's:

Grade Ten Science:  10.5, 10.10, 10.12, 10.17, 10.21, 10.24, 10.95, 10.96, 10.97
Biology:  B.10, B.21, B.44, B.46, B.47
Geometry: G.8, G.14, G.19, G.23
English Language Arts:  10.24, 10.43, 10.46, 10.47

National Standards

References:

AIMS Activity Worksheet
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings.html
http://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/duck_into_kaleidoscope.html
http://www.iumsc.indiana.edu/
http://www.nyu.edu/pages/mathmol/library/
TesselMania Software from MECC

Comments:

Created by:

Rusty Campbell
                     David Underwood
                     Carol White

North Marion High School
RR 1 Box 100
Farmington, WV 26571

Date Created:  02/26/1999

Date Modified:

Attachments:

Assessment#4 as an html file
AIMS Worksheet