CLEVER CONES/SASSY CIRCLES
(Geometry/Dimension)
By Carol Peterson
Dimension (di-MEN-shun) means a measure in one direction. Some shapes are 2-dimensional and some are 3-dimensional. A 2-dimensional shape has height and width—meaning it is tall and wide. A 3-dimensional shape has height and width, too. It also has depth. An example of a 2-dimensional shape is a circle drawn on a paper. The circle is tall and wide, but it is not deep because it does not extend up above or beneath the paper. But a sphere—a ball, for example—is 3-dimensional. It is tall and wide and also deep.
How do you draw a circle? One way is to trace around something that is round. For example you can place a soup can on a sheet of paper, hold it in place and draw around it, following the can edge with the pencil. When you remove the can, you are left with a drawing of a circle.
You can also use a compass; not a magnetic compass that tells direction, but a drawing instrument compass. It has 2 legs, one with a point and one with a clamp to hold a pencil. You open the legs half as wide as you want your circle to be. Then you place the pointed end on the paper, hold it in place, and swing the pencil end around the pointed end in a circle, with the tip of the pencil touching the paper. When you remove the compass from the paper, you have drawn a circle.
You can also attach a pencil to one end of a string and a tack to the other end of the string. Insert the tack into the paper. Holding, the string tight and with the tip of the pencil touching the paper, swing the pencil around in a circle, with the tack as the middle point. When you remove the string, the pencil, and the tack, you have drawn a circle.
A circle is a flat figure. It is 2-dimensional. You can see the shape of the circle on the paper, but it doesn’t have any depth. It does not stand up above the paper. It can represent the 3-dimensional shape of a sphere.
A cone is also a 3-dimensional figure. To create a cone you could draw a circle and cut it in half. Then cut out the half-circle shape and join the 2 halves of the straight edges together so that the curved edge of the half circle makes the bottom of the cone. If you wanted to draw the shape of the 3-dimensional cone on paper, you would draw it as a triangle with one side of the triangle as a curve.
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FLAG FANCY
(Math, World Culture, Art)
By Carol Peterson
Vexillology (veks-ih-LOL-uh-gee) is the study of flags. Here are some flag facts.
*Flag Symbolism: Flag colors have special meaning. Red can symbolize blood shed in the fight for freedom. White often means peace. Orange represents courage and sacrifice. Black may represent determination, ethnic heritage, or defeating one's enemies. Blue often represents freedom, justice, or prosperity. Green can symbolize the earth, agriculture, or the Islam religion. Yellow often represents the Sun, wealth, or justice.
Groups of colors also have specific meaning. Many countries have red, white, and blue flags, inspired by the flags adopted by France and America after gaining their independence. Many flags of Arab countries use red, white, black, and green to signify their unity. Many African flags use red, yellow, and green to show unity with other African countries.
Flags also may contain symbols important to that country. For example, the 50 stars on the American flag represent the 50 states. The cross on the flags of England, Scotland, and Denmark represents the cross of Jesus Christ.
*Parts of a Flag
Isn’t a flag just a rectangular piece of fabric with colors and designs? Yes, but each part of the flag has a different name and purpose. When a flag is flown, the flagpole should be to the left of the flag as the person is looking at it. When the flag is hung on a flagpole correctly, the side seen by a person facing it is called the “observe” (because it can be observed or seen) and the other side is called the “reverse.”
Every flag is divided into 4 quarters, called “cantons.” The two left-hand cantons next to the pole are called the “hoist” because that edge is hoisted (raised) up the pole. The two right-hand cantons away from the pole are called the “fly” because that edge flies freely in the air.
Not all flags are the same size or shape. Each flag has an official ratio. This means that the proportion of the flag width and length remain the same even if the flag is made larger or smaller. For example, the ratio of the narrow Pan-Arabian flags is different from the ratio of the fatter Mexican flag. That way, whether the flags are large or small, the Pan-Arabian flags remain narrower than the Mexican flag.
*Other flag terms:
Field: The background of a flag. For example, we say that the American flag has 50 stars on a “field of blue.”
Half-mast: When a flag is hung halfway down from the top of a flagpole to leave room for “death’s” flag above. It represents mourning or distress.
Length: The measurement of a flag at a right angle to the flagpole. On the American flag, this would be the edge of the flag along the stripes. The length may not necessarily the “longest” side because not all flags are rectangular in shape.
Width: The measurement of the side of a flag parallel to the flagpole.
Vexing Vexillology (Art)
Flags represent a country’s history, people, and ideals. Create a flag for yourself, your family or classroom. What colors would you choose and why? What special design would it have and why?
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WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE WE?
(Math, Geography, World Culture)
By Carol Peterson
Latitude and Longitude
One way we locate places on the earth is by latitude and longitude – imaginary lines that divide the earth into sections.
Latitude: Imagine slicing a solid ball in half. That would create two pieces with a flat surface on one end of each. If Earth were that ball, the equator would be like the flat circle. Latitude lines are imaginary lines that are parallel to the equator, as if the earth were sliced into circles, each circle getting smaller towards the poles.
We number latitude lines starting with zero at the equator according to the number of degrees north (N) or south (S) of the equator. The number of degrees has to do with the angle of the location in relation to the equator.
Angles? Earth is a ball shape. How can it have angles? Imagine we can see through the earth. The circle going through the earth at the equator is one plane. That means it has no height or depth so there is no angle FROM the equator TO the equator. Put a different way, the angle FROM the equator TO the equator is zero.
The angle from the equator to the North Pole, however, makes a 90-degree angle. Therefore the latitude at the North Pole is 90 degrees North. Locations between zero and 90 represent angles relative to the equator.
Longitude lines also help locate points on the earth. Longitude lines go from pole to pole like strips of an orange peel – wider at the equator and narrower towards the poles. Longitudes measure from one point on the earth around to another.
The equator goes completely around the earth to form a circle. In mathematics, every circle has 360 degrees that take you from the beginning of the circle, all the way back to the beginning. The DISTANCE from one point on that circle to another, is that number of degrees around the circle. For historical reasons, we measure longitude as the number of degrees east (E) or west (W) of the Royal Astronomical Observatory in Greenwich, England.
To Do: Find out the latitude and longitude of your town by looking it up or estimating it on a map. Then switch the N/S latitude and E/W longitude. For example, if your town is located at 40 N latitude and 125 W longitude, check to see what is at 40 S latitude and 125 W longitude. What is at 40 N latitude and 125 E longitude? Then try 40 S latitude and 125 E longitude.
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PTERODACTYL TREATS
(Just for fun)
by Carol Peterson
Ever go dinosaur hunting? Here’s how to dig up your own nest of dinosaur eggs. To make Pterodactyl Treats you will need:
• Jurassic mud: chocolate pudding (prepared according to instructions on the package to serve 4)
• Dinosaur dirt: 1 cup crushed chocolate cookies
• Pterodactyl eggs: small bag of jelly beans
• Spoon
• 4 small bowls
Divide the pudding evenly into 4 bowls, forming a small dip in the center of the pudding in each bowl with a spoon. Sprinkle the crumbs over the pudding. Place 5 or 6 jelly beans in the center of each mud “nest.” Chill in the refrigerator until ready to eat. Serves 4.
Now – like a good paleontologist, “dig in!”
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SURPRISES TUCKED INSIDE
(Art; World Culture)
By Carol Peterson
What’s to love about nesting dolls? Each doll opens to reveal a surprise – another doll tucked inside. Russian children brought these carved and painted wooden toys with them to America. The toys were called “matryoshka” (matr-YOSH-ka) dolls, which comes from a word that means “mother.” One doll is the mother of the smaller doll inside.
To make a set of matryoshka dolls, you will need:
• Plastic Easter eggs that open at the center – at least 2 of different sizes so that one fits inside another
• Glue, marker pens, yarn, buttons, glitter, other decorations
• One plastic milk carton top for each egg
Decorate eggs as animals, people, or other creatures, using markers, yarn, buttons and other decorations. Place smaller eggs inside larger ones. Use a plastic milk carton top as a “stand” for each egg when they are not tucked inside.
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WHAT’S THE FUSS? LET’S MAKE PAPYRUS!
(History, Science, Art)
Carol Peterson
Ancient Egyptians wove a type of river grass into mats, pounded them, and let them dry. These mats, named “papyrus” after the river grass, were the first paper. Papyrus doesn’t grow in our neighborhoods, but we can get an idea of how papyrus mats were made by using cornhusks. To make a mat (6 – 8” square), you will need:
• The husks from one ear of corn (10-12 leaves)
• Scissors
• Paper towels
• Baker’s cooling rack
• Cookie sheet
• Sheet of colored paper
• White glue
• Colored markers (optional)
Strip the cornhusks from an ear of corn. Using scissors, trim the bottom end of each cornhusk leaf so it lies flat. Spread several cornhusks on a paper towel placed over the cooling rack. Lay a second paper towel over the cornhusks, making sure the husks stay flat. Arrange more cornhusks on the second paper towel. Repeat layers until all cornhusks are lying flat between paper towels. Cover the last paper towel with a cookie sheet to prevent the cornhusks from rolling while they dry. Let cornhusks dry completely – a day or two.
When they are dry, glue one end of 5 or 6 cornhusks vertically (up and down) onto a sheet of colored paper. Make sure there are no spaces between the cornhusks. Press the glued ends down for several minutes until they stick to the paper. Then weave cornhusks in and out (horizontally) through the glued rows to make a mat. Make sure there are no spaces between your weave. Then glue the ends of all cornhusks to the
paper. Egyptians often used soot for writing and crushed jewels to make brightly colored paint. You can use colored marking pens to create an Egyptian drawing or story on your “papyrus.” Or use hieroglyphic symbols and spell out you name.
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SANTA COMES HOME (Cake Recipe)
(Math, geography, social studies)
By Carol Peterson
Where does Santa go when he’s done with his trip around the world on December 24? Why he returns to his home at the North Pole, of course! And who lives up north? And what type of house do they live in? Eskimos live up north and they live in an igloo.
If doing this as part of a classroom lesson, have one person make the cake at home and bring it in to share. If this is just a fun project with your own special kid, still discuss where in the world the north pole is, what the living conditions and weather are like, how igloos are built, whatever you know about the north pole can be a jumping off point for discussion. This dessert makes a fun Christmas Day or New Years Day family tradition.
Here’s how to make the cake. You need:
• 1 package of angel food cake mix
• Egg whites and water according to the package directions
• Electric mixer, bowl and scraper
• A large glass mixing bowl for baking
• Long metal spatula/spreader
• Large tub of whipped topping (thawed)
• Blue food coloring
• Toothpicks
• Large cake plate or foil-covered board
Prepare the cake mix according to the package directions. Instead of using an angel food cake pan, pour the prepared mix into a large glass mixing bowl. Bake according to directions. Cool on a cake rack, upside down. When cool, run the long spatula/spreader around the inside of the bowl to loosen the cake. Remove the cake and set it, inverted, on a cake plate or foil-covered board.
To decorate the igloo, cover the cake with the whipped topping. Using a toothpick dipped in blue food coloring, draw an oval “door” on one side of the igloo. Then create “ice blocks” around the igloo by sketching blue lines, offset in a large brick pattern. If desired, twist a white pipe cleaner into “smoke” and insert it in the top of the igloo and set a small Santa decoration by the front door. Enjoy!
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