Teachers.net9-12
Amazing Math Projects You Can Build Yourself
Make a geodesic dome big enough to sit in. Solve the world’s hardest two-piece puzzle. Pass a straight line though a curved slot. From prime numbers to paraboloids, activities in Amazing Math Projects You Can Build Yourself introduce you to the beauty and wonder of math through hands-on activities.
Learn by building, playing, and doing. Cut apart shapes to discover area formulas, build beautiful geometric models to explore their properties, and amaze your friends with the mysterious Möbius strip.
Throughout the book, there are examples of how we encounter math in our daily lives. Marvel at the mathematical patterns in snowflakes and discover the graceful curves in the Golden Gate Bridge. You’ll never look at soap bubbles the same way again!
Amazing Math Projects You Can Build Yourself includes projects about number patterns, lines, curves, and shapes. Some activities show you a new way to look at math that you have learned in school; others give you a glimpse of things to come; and finally, some are simply fun. Each activity includes intriguing facts, vocabulary builders, and connections to other topics.
“…Very hands-on and easy to get into and draws students
into an active engagement with mathematical ideas. Well done!”
— David Bressoud, the DeWitt Wallace Professor of Mathematics,
Macalester College; President, Mathematical Association of America
“A wonderful book, I am utterlydelighted and pleased with its vast
mathematical content. The book begins with the simplest notions
of arithmetic and proceeds on to geometry and all kinds of higher
math, with plenty of hands-on constructions and do-it-yourself suggestions.”
— Magnus Wenninger Fr. www.saintjohnsabbey.org/wenninger/
Naylor, Michael. 2002. Golden, Square Root of 2, and π Flowers: A Spiral Story.
Mathematics Magazine 75, no. 3 (June): 163-172. doi:10.2307/3219239.
Pickover, Clifford A. 2006. The Möbius Strip: Dr. August Möbius's Marvelous Band in
Mathematics, Games, Literature, Art, Technology,and Cosmology. New York: Thunder's Mouth Press.
Polster, Burkard. 2006. The Shoelace Book: A Mathematical Guide to the Best (and worst) Ways to Lace Your Shoes. Providence, R.I: American Mathematical Society.
Pugh, Anthony. 1976. Polyhedra: A Visual Approach. Berkeley: University of California
Press.
Rudman, Peter Strom. 2007. How MathematicsHappened: The First 50,000 Years. Amherst,
N.Y: Prometheus Books.
Sayili, Aydin. 1960. Thâbit ibn Qurra's Generalization of the Pythagorean
Theorem. Isis 51, no. 1 (March): 35-37. doi:10.2307/227603.
Stewart, Ian. 2007. Game, Set and Math: Enigmas and Conundrums. Mineola, N.Y:
Dover Publications.
Strain, Steve. Golden Ratio Dividers. Wolfram Demonstrations Project.
Williams, Michael R. 1985. A History of Computing Technology. Englewood Cliffs, N.J:
Prentice-Hall.
Woodburn, Glenda. Tetrahedral Kite Building Instructions.
Anderson, Marlow, Victor J Katz, and Robin J Wilson, eds. 2004. Sherlock Holmes in Babylon: And Other Tales of Mathematical History. Washington, DC: Mathematical Association of America.
Annal, David, and Seth Bareiss. Tessellations - Escher and how to make your own. Tessellations.
Bell, Alexander Graham. 1903. Tetrahedral Principle in Kite Structure. National Geographic
Magazine, June.
Berlinghoff, William P. 2004. Math Through the Ages: A Gentle History for Teachers and Others. Expanded ed. Washington, DC: Mathematical Association of America.
Blatner, David. 1997. The Joy of π. New York: Walker & Co.
Boys, C. V. 1959. Soap Bubbles and the Forces Which Mould Them. 1st ed. Garden City, N.Y:
Doubleday Anchor Books.
Bradley, Robert E, and Charles Edward Sandifer, eds. 2007. Leonhard Euler: Life, Work and Legacy. 1st ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Chyatte, Jeff. 2009. Math and the Arts: Just Passing Through. Math Horizons (April): 16.
Cooke, Roger. 2005. The History of Mathematics: A Brief Course. 2nd ed. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley-Interscience.
Cromwell, Peter R. 1997. Polyhedra. Cambridge, U.K: Cambridge University Press.
Eagle, M. Ruth. 1995. Exploring Mathematics Through History. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press.
Fibonacci, Leonardo. 2002. Fibonacci's Liber Abaci: A Translation into Modern English of
Leonardo Pisano's Book of Calculation. Trans. L. E Sigler. New York: Springer.
Foister, Susan, and National Gallery (Great Britain). 1997. Holbein's Ambassadors. London:
National Gallery Publications.
Higgins, Peter M. 2007. Nets, Puzzles, and Postmen. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hopkins, Brian, and Robin J. Wilson. 2004. The Truth about Königsberg. The College
Mathematics Journal 35, no. 3 (May): 198-207. doi:10.2307/4146895.
Hunt, J. L., B. G. Nickel, and Christian Gigault. 2000. Anamorphic images. American Journal of Physics 68, no. 3 (March): 232-237.
Isenberg, Cyril. 1978. The Science of Soap Films and Soap Bubbles. Clevedon: Tieto Ltd.
Libbrecht, Kenneth George. 2003. The Snowflake: Winter's Secret Beauty. Stillwater,
MN: Voyageur Press.
Liungman, Carl G. Symbols.com - Symbol 28:24. Online Encyclopedia of Western Signs
and Ideograms.
Livio, Mario. 2003. The Golden Ratio: The Story of Phi, the World's Most Astonishing Number. 1st ed. New York: Broadway Books.
Lovett, D. R, and NetLibrary, Inc. 1994. Demonstrating Science with Soap Films. Bristol:
Institute of Physics Pub.
Maor, Eli. 2007. The Pythagorean Theorem: A 4,000-Year History. Princeton: Princeton
University Press.
Mitchison, G. J. 1977. Phyllotaxis and the Fibonacci Series. Science 196, no.
4287. New Series (April 15): 270-275. doi:10.2307/1743115.
Mungan, I., and Udo Wittek. 2004. Natural draught cooling towers. Taylor & Francis, April 15.
Sam Carbaugh received a BA from Cornerstone University and is earning his MFA from the Center for Cartoon Studies. He currently lives in Vermont and enjoys hiking and playing Scrabble with his wife, Kristin. Check out his website at Carbaughcomics.wordpress.com
Amaze your friends with this fun trick that uses Fibonacci numbers!
Myths and Legends: 25 Fascinating Projects You Can Build Yourself
From the Greek legend of Atlantis to West African creation myths, kids will discover the common themes and important knowledge conveyed by each story. They will even learn about the current events upon which some legends may have been based. Exploring the stories from many cultures, including those of Greek, Sumerian, Incan, Irish, African, and Native American people, readers will learn about the Celtic roots of Halloween, the beliefs and practices of voodoo, and the ancient Egyptian gods of the afterlife.
Hands-on activities bring the myths and legends to life, and help kids understand the cultures and traditions of the people that told them. Easy-to-follow projects use common household and recycled supplies, and include fortune telling, creating musical instruments, writing in ancient scripts, and fashioning a boomerang.
GEEKDAD Wired Magazine April 28, 2010 — World Myths and Legends can quickly become a favorite due to it being about some of the most exciting and fantastical stories in existence. I’ve had this book for several weeks and we’re not even 25% into completing the crafts.,, I haven’t seen my nine year old excited about a book like this for a while.
Charlotte Library 5/10/10 —Although this book might sound like a fairly ordinary craft book, it is much more--it is also an excellent introduction to the cultures and myths of a diverse selection of peoples, and one I highly recommend to home-schoolers in particular. . . The projects themselves are extremely varied, and go beyond simple craft-ness. For instance, one activity for the Greek section is to use Euclidian geometry to make an equilateral triangle--fun with compasses! The point is that these are rather cool projects, such as I have never seen elsewhere.
“A remarkably comprehensive, accurate, and thoroughly readable overview of world mythology and legendry. World Myths and Legends will build a firm foundation for the
subsequent study and appreciation of this most important aspect of the human condition, and also lead to many hours of creative family fun.”— C. Scott Littleton, Professor of Anthropology, Emeritus, Occidental College, Los Angeles, California, author of The New Comparative Mythology
“This book is a terrific introduction for children to the subject of myths and legends. I cannot imagine a work that would more readily win the interest of children in the subject.”— Robert A. Segal, Sixth Century Chair in Religious Studies, University of Aberdeen, author of Myth: A Very Short Introduction.
“Sophisticated and fun.” — William Hansen, Professor Emeritus of Classical Studies & Folklore, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
Books About Mythology
Da vis, Kenneth C. Don’t Know Much About Mythology: Everything You Need to Know About the Greatest Stories in Human History But Never Learned. Harper Collins, 2005.
Davis, Kenneth C. Don’t Know Much About World Myths. HarperCollins Children’s Books, 2005.
January, Brendan. The New York Public Library Amazing Mythology: A Book of Answers for Kids. John Wiley and Sons, 2000.
Mass, Wendy. Gods and Goddesses. Lucent Books, 2002.
Muten, Burleigh. Goddesses: A World of Myth and Magic. Barefoot Books, 2003.
Philip, Neil. The Kingfisher Book of Mythology: Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes from Around the World. Kingfisher Publications, 2001.
Philip, Neil. Mythology. Dorling Kindersley, 2000.
Philip, Neil. Mythology of the World. Kingfisher Publications, 2004.
Willis, Roy (editor). World Mythology. Duncan Baird Publishers, 1993.
Collections of World Myths
Bell-Rehwoldt, Sheri. Amazing Maya Projects You Can Build Yourself. Nomad Press, 2006.
Bini, Renata. A World Treasury of Myths, Legends, and Folktales: Stories From Six Continents. Harry N. Abrams, 2000.
Bordessa, Kris. Tools of the Ancient Greeks. Nomad Press, 2006.
Dickinson, Rachel. Tools of the Ancient Romans. Nomad Press, 2006.
Hamilton, Edith. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. Grand Central Publishing, 1999
McCaughrean, Geraldine. The Bronze Cauldron: Myths and Legends of the World. Margaret K. McElderry, 1998.
McCaughrean, Geraldine. The Crystal Pool: Myth and Legends of the World. Margaret K. McElderry, 1999.
McCaughrean, Geraldine. The Golden Hoard: Myths and Legends of the World. Margaret K. McElderry, 1996.
McCaughrean, Geraldine. The Silver Treasure: Myths and Legends of the World. Margaret K. McElderry, 1997.
Mutén, Burleigh. Goddesses: A World of Myth and Magic. Barefoot Books, 2003.
Philip, Neil. The Illustrated Book of Myths: Tales & Legends of the World. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
Randall, Ronne. The Children’s Book of Myths and Legends: Extraordinary Stories from Around the World. Bookmart Ltd., 2001.
Van Vleet, Carmella, Great Ancient Egypt Projects You Can Build Yourself. Nomad Press, 2006.
Web Sites
The Big Myth Myths told with Flash animation and background information.
Center for Story and Symbol
Encyclopedia Mythica
Godchecker A light-hearted catalog of gods from around the world.
History for Kids Information about ancient history, geography, science, and culture.
Mr. Donn’s Ancient History Page Information for students about ancient history, including myths.
Mythography
Mythweb Simple versions of Greek myths, with fun animated illustrations.
Sacred Texts
Scholastic Myths, Folktales and Fairytales Short versions of world myths, and “myth
brainstorming machine.”
Windows to the Universe Mythology Myths related to astronomy.
Shawn Braley, Shawn Braley is an award-winning illustrator. He attended the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, Inc. He specializes in cartoon and editorial illustration. Braley is also a world traveler, musician, cat owner, and comic art collector. He lives in Southern Vermont. http://www.shawnbraley.com
The name “daruma” comes from the Buddhist word dharma. Dharma is the truth about the way things are and will always be in the universe or in nature. According to legend, a Buddhist monk sat for so many years meditating that his arms and legs stiffened up. From then on, he rolled from place to place spreading the teachings of Buddha. In Japan, people buy daruma dolls on New Years’ for good luck. The dolls come with blank eyes. To make a wish, you put a dot in the daruma’s left eye. If it comes true, you fill in the other eye.
Amazing Africa Projects You Can Build Yourself
All eyes will be on Africa in 2010 when South Africa hosts the Soccer World Cup, an athletic event that rivals the Olympics in enthusiasm and anticipation. While Africa is one continent, it contains many diverse countries. Amazing Africa Projects You Can Build Yourself introduces readers ages 9 and up to the stunning landscapes, ancient civilizations and tribes, unique traditions, and amazing wildlife of the vast African continent.
Through 25 fun projects that use common household supplies and recycled materials, kids will beable to learn what life is like in Africa.
Booklist May 15, 2010— Casual and informative, this large, attractive, browsable paperback in the Build It Yourself series offers a view of contemporary African life that reaches far beyond the usual scenery-and-wildlife tourists’ perspective. Blending history, culture, and tradition with politics and life in both cities and rural areas, the chapters begin with a look at natural wonders and dangerous wildlife that will grab readers, then move onto historical discussions of humankind’s birthplace and early civilizations. Views of daily life today show the continent’s vast diversity: in a city apartment, a teen might surf the Internet, but most Africans live in smaller, more rural communities, where there may be no electricity or running water. The author also discusses AIDS orphans, many of whom live homeless in the streets of shantytowns. The open design includes sketches on every page. Many readers may skip the craft projects––make your own Maasai beaded necklace, kente cloth, woven basket, galimoto doll, and much more––and go straight to the facts.
“User-friendly, clearly written, and grounded in deep historical evidence. The careful and compelling presentation on a wonderful continent allows us to reflect more clearly about an incredible place.” — Toyin Falola, University Distinguished Teaching Professor, University of Texas at Austin, and the Nelson Mandela Professor of African Studies-At Large.
“Amazing Africa Projects is a thoughtful, visually engaging overview of the diversity, complexity, and rich heritage of African people, places and predicaments. The book is a valuable resource for teachers and parents who want to encourage pre-teens to learn about and experience the past and present of Africa and to contemplate the continent’s future.”
— Dorothy L. Hodgson, Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Institute for Research on Women, Rutgers University
Books
Ayo, Yvonne. Eyewitness: Africa.
Beck, Paul. The Field Guide to Safari Animals.
Finley, Carol. The Art of African Masks: Exploring Cultural Traditions.
Hansen, Joyce and Laurie McGaw. African Princess: The Amazing Lives of Africa's Royal Women.
Katis, Alex. Fandex Family Field Guides: Africa.
Knight, Margy Burns. Africa Is Not A Country.
Lekuton, Joseph Lemasolai and Herman Viola. Facing the Lion: Growing Up Maasai on the African Savanna.
McKissack, Patricia and Frederick. The Royal Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay: Life in Medieval Africa.
Nuckolls, Genny and Les. Growing Up in Africa.
Websites
Africa For Kids
African Kingdoms
Animals of the African Safari
The Story of Africa
Megan Stearns is a freelance artist and has completed many commissions, including portraits of animals, people, and landscapes, T-shirt designs, and children’s book illustrations. She lives in Mattituck, New York.
The Kikuyu people are the largest ethnic group in Kenya. The young men wear special initiation shields prior to becoming junior warriors.
The shields are carved from wood and are often passed down within families and repainted for each initiation. The shields also have an “eye” cut out of the center.
Discover the Desert: The Driest Places On Earth
Ever wonder what it would be like to visit the desert? Is it as dry and barren as it seems, or are there exciting discoveries waiting to be found? And how would you survive the extremes of temperatures, the rough terrain, and the vast distances? Discover the Desert takes readers ages 8 to 12 across breathtaking landscapes to explore the plants and animals of the desert, its lost civilizations, and today's desert-dwelling cultures.
Discover the Deserts wins 2010 Skipping Stones Award
Skipping Stones Magazine Summer 2010—This fun-filled, easy-to-read educational gem will inspire you to explore the diversity of our world’s deserts through their unique climates, geography and ecology. But that’s not all! Among the engaging illustrtions you will find helpful vocabulary, fascinating facts, survival skills and fun at-home projects. It may even compel you to pick up a sandboard. Imagine snowboarding in the desert! Projects ideas include solar cooking, building an underground shelter, or planting an indoor cactus garden. Don’t forget, pack a copy of this book on your next expedition to the desert!
School Library Journal - 3/2010—Chock-full of definitions and facts, this exploration of deserts provides a lot of information about their location, formation, and characteristics.. . Produced to promote conservation of resources, the book includes illustrations and backgrounds in various shades of brown and gray, a logical choice for the subject… Those who peruse even some sections, though, can come away with topics they want to investigate in more depth by consulting additional sources, including the many books and Web sites noted at the end.
Wired Magazine, GeekDad- 1/2010 - Discover the Desert gives a great overview of deserts of the world, with plenty of specifics and important safety tips. You will come away with a much greater knowledge of what the world's deserts are like, culturally, meteorologically and biologically....the included activities and projects will be very memorable.
Booklist February 2010— This large-format book introduces deserts and helps readers imagine traveling through different types, observing their features, and coping with the challenges they present…. These relatively simple, hands-on activities will be useful to teachers and parents looking for ways to engage children with the subject.
“Deserts are the least understood among the land features of the earth because of their vastness and harsh conditions. Yet they remain one of the most fascinating regions of the earth, invoking mysteries and legends, especially in young minds. This book explains in simple terms the various features of deserts with practical lessons of how to travel in and enjoy that wilderness. Today’s young individuals are concerned about preserving the natural features of our planet. This book teaches them how to learn about and how to appreciate one of the most fragile environments on Earth.”
—Dr. Farouk El-Baz, renowned desert explorer, Boston University
“Children will learn a great deal about what deserts are like. I enjoyed Discover the Desert. Combines science with the excitement of discovery.” —Andrew Goudie, Master of St Cross College, Oxford, Emeritus Professor in Geography, recipient of the 2007 Geological Society of America’s Farouk El-Baz Prize for desert research
“Important concepts about the diversity of deserts, human habitation and use, and
geology are reinforced in a child-friendly and accessible manner. Discover the Desert
provokes excitement about a biome that has been traditionally and erroneously treated
as barren and devoid of life. Readers will be left with an increased understanding of the desert and, perhaps more importantly, an increased appreciation for the value of
deserts.” —Frank van Breukelen, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Life Sciences,
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Deserts of the World
California Academy of Sciences: The Great Sahara Desert
Deserts: Geology and Resources by Alta Sharon
Walker (US Geological Survey)
Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
Missouri Botanical Garden Biomes of the World:
Desert
National Geographic Deserts Information
United Nations Environment Program: Global
Deserts Outlook
Deserts of the United States
Desert Survivors (University of Nevada, Las Vegas)
USGS Death Valley National Park Virtual
FieldTrip
Utah Geological Survey
Desert Travel and Recreation
California Deserts Visitors Association
The Cultured Traveler (February 2006 issue)
Dreamride Mountain Bike Skills
United Nations World Tourism Organization:
Sustainable Development of Ecotourism in
Desert Areas
Desert Survival
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety
Agency Clothing and Solar UV Protection
Discovery Survival Zone: Desert
Expert Village Video Series: How to Survive in the
Desert
Lawrence of Arabia (PBS)
Maricopa County Dept. of Emergency Management
Desert Awareness Booklet
U.S Army Field Manual 3-05.70: Survival (May, 2002)
Desert Preservation and Desertification
The Center for Sonoran Desert Studies of the Desert
Research Institute, NV
The International Center for Agricultural Research
in the Dry Areas
The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research,
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
United Nations Conference on Desertification
United Nations World Food Program
General
Google Maps
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization World Heritage Convention
United States Department of the Interior Bureau
of Land Management
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Geological Survey
BOOKS
Allaby, Michael. Deserts. Chelsea House, 2006.
Annerino, John. Desert Survivor: An Adventurer’s
Guide to Exploing the Great American Desert.
Four Walls Eight Windows, 2001.
Brown, John. Journey Into the Desert.
Oxford University Press, 2002.
Castaldo, Nancy F. Deserts: An Activity Guide
for Ages 6-9. Chicago Review Press, 2004.
Davenport, Gregory J. Surviving the Desert.
Stackpole Books, 2004.
Flegg, Jim. Deserts: Miracle of Life.
Facts on File, 1993.
Guiberson, Brenda Z. Cactus Hotel.
H. Holt, 1991.
Harris, Nathaniel. Atlas of the World’s Deserts.
Fitzroy Dearborn, 2003.
Jenkins, Martin. Deserts.
Lerner Publications, 1995.
Lazaroff, David Wentworth. Arizona-Sonora Desert
Museum Book of Answers. Arizona-Sonora
Desert Museum Press, 1998.
Le Rochais, Marie-Ange. Desert Trek:
An Eye-Opening Journey Through the World’s
Driest Places. Walker & Co., 2001.
Pipe, Jim. Desert Survival.
Gareth Stevens Pub., 2008.
Reynolds, Jan. Sahara: Vanishing Cultures.
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1991.
Rozario, Paul. Spreading Deserts.
Raintree, 2004.
Silver, Donald M. Cactus Desert.
W. H. Freeman, 1995.
Simon, Seymour. Deserts. Morrow Junior
Books, 1990.
Stilwell, Alexander. The Encyclopedia of Survival
Techniques. The Lyons Press, 2000.
Storm, Rory. Desert Survivor’s Guide.
Scholastic, 2001.
Warren, Andres and Tony Allan. Guide to Deserts.
Firefly Books Inc., 2006.
Sam Carbaugh received a BA from Cornerstone University and is earning his MFA from the Center for Cartoon Studies. He currently lives in Vermont and enjoys hiking and playing Scrabble with his wife, Kristin. Check out his website at Carbaughcomics.wordpress.com
Learn how light rays bend as they go from lower-density air to
higher-density water. The object you’re looking at will appear to be floating upside down
above the table!
