(#45) PI in the Sky
This is our third book in our NASA series, and the most flexible yet.
Arranged as a "smorgasbord" of six "buffet tables," each
table is arrayed with a variety of creative science and math labs and
supplemental tools. If you've ever wanted to scrap one-size-fits-all lessons
to meet individual needs, here's your chance to experience student-directed
flexibility. Or you can choose to pre-select labs in a more traditional
mode. Either way, these activities speak directly to students, with you
presenting our targeted demonstrations and background information, providing
simple materials, and acting as a resource person. Watch students discover
for themselves how astronomers determine the size and distance of heavenly
objects.
Begin with a creative review of pi (a superb math unit on its own!), then go
on to investigate angular size relationships, test visual acuity, construct
and use an ancient navigational instrument, study parallax, and more! Pi in
the Sky is a stellar publication, overflowing with extraordinary math and
science, all using ordinary, cheap materials. Your students use their hands,
bodies and minds to grasp elusive mathematical concepts in practical,
concrete ways.
Pi in the Sky (37 graduated student labs / gr 5-12)
(#45) PI IN THE SKY is a set of 37 Self-Directing Student Labs of graduated depth and difficulty. This is a variation on our popular Activity Page Series, designed for greater flexibility. All Student Labs and supplemental Student Tools can be photocopied for classroom use. Teachers can pre-select, or permit students to self-select, the most appropriate labs for grade and ability levels. Introductions and Scope and Sequence pages make it easy to map these choices.
This 80 page soft-bound book is organized as follows:
INTRODUCTION
Why Teach TOPS? * Welcome * Standards * Getting Ready * Overview (Scope and
Sequence) * Photocopy Schedule *
STUDENT LABS and TEACHING NOTES (8 sections, below).
Each section contains a Scope and Sequence, a set of Student Labs and
related Student Tools to photocopy, and a Teaching Notes section which
includes test/evaluation questions.
A: PI IS A CONSTANT
What's Pi, anyway? * Chop Circumferences into Equal Arc Lengths *
Approximate Pi Using a Paper Plate and String * Make a Pi Graph * Calculate
Earth Distances * TOOLS: Millimeter Beads / Pi Graph
B: RADIANS AND DEGREES
So What's a Radian? * Inscribe an Equilateral Triangle * And What's a Pi
Radian? * Divide a Circle Into Radian Wedges * Calibrate a Protractor * No
Protractors Allowed! * Calibrate a Circle in Degrees and Radians * TOOLS:
Snowman / Protractor
C: COUNTING DIAMETERS
Make a Coin-Diameter Ruler * Observe from the Plane of Your Table Top *
Arrange Coins to Have the Same Apparent Size * Explore Angular Size
Relationships Among Coins * Make a Ruler from Paper Plates * Does a Moon
Ruler Correctly Scale the Real Thing? * Gaze at a Paper Plate Moon * Test
Your Moon Ruler on Family and Friends * TOOLS: Coin Ruler / Moon Ruler /
Dime Ruler
D: VISUAL ACUITY
Test Your Visual Acuity with a 1 mm Dot * Test Your Visual Acuity with Other
Dot Diameters * Compare Your Eyesight with GLAST and Hubble * Can You See a
Dime at 100 Meters? * TOOL: Millimeter Dots
E: TIE YOUR KAMAL
Make a Paper Kamal and Try It Out * Learn to Ride Your Kamal * What's Your
Apparent Shoe Size? * Knowing Height, Estimate Distance * Knowing Distance,
Estimate Height * Lay Out Inner Solar System Plus Jupiter * Do Other Planets
Have Larger Moon-Rises? * TOOLS: Kamal Triangle / Planets to Scale
F: LOOK FROM HERE AND THERE
Estimate Diameter from a Distance * Measure Something Tall Three Ways *
What's Parallax and How Do We Measure It? * Step Aside and Look Again * How
Far to Nearby Stars? * I Beg Your Parsec *
____________________________
(#45) PI IN THE SKY requires no lab equipment or
unusual supplies. Just
photocopy the student lab pages, gather simple materials (like paper plates,
string, masking tape and meter sticks), and you're ready to explore TOPS
Learning Systems hands-on.
GRADE RANGE: 5-12
ORIGINS: written by Ron Marson / illustrated by Peg Marson / copyrighted in
2005 by TOPS Learning Systems / ISBN 978-0-941008-45-2
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#45 PI IN THE SKY @ $15.00
