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History of Pi Scrapbook

Sheryl A. McCoy

The purpose of this scrapbook lesson is to encourage students to use the internet and its resources and learn about the history of the irrational number Pi.

Introduction

Ever wondered how ancient people built those great architectural wonders? If you could, where would you go to find out? What would you be most interested in seeing? The Pyramids? The Stonehenge? Maybe you would like to explore some of the places and people and the special methods they used to make buildings that have withstood the test of time? Even if you could tour all these sites, it's likely that you would learn more about this architecture that doesn't always make it into the guidebooks. One special number has traveled with the generations of builders through time.

You now have the chance to take a virtual tour of ancient architectural wonders. Explore people and places that are as special today, as they were to the time in which they lived. As you explore, collect as many artifacts as you can.

Instructions

 Find pictures, text, maps, facts, quotes, or controversies that capture your exploration of Pi and architectural wonders. Capture the text and images you decide are worthwhile. Later you will develop a multimedia scrapbook. Follow the road you find most interesting, but be prepared to show someone else how to get there.

Specifically, you will:

1. Locate the Internet sites linked below.

2. Copy any text you want by dragging across the words then using the Edit - Copy command on the menubar. Be sure to cite the website you are quoting, and set the text apart with quotation marks or text blocks.

3. Paste the Text into a basic text editor, word processor, desktop publishing program or multimedia software.

4. Download any image that you think will be a good addition to your scrapbook. (Note: check about copyright rules with your teacher or supervising adult. In most instances, students can copy items if they are just to be used in their classwork.)

5. Either paste the images you've downloaded into a multimedia, paint or desktop publishing program (like Microsoft WORD, KIDPIX, or Microsoft Powerpoint) or use one of the graphics viewers available on your classroom computer to display your collection of images.

Once you finish your scrapbook, check it carefully, so you can thoughtfully explain why you chose your images.

History of Pi Hotlist

Birthplace of Fibonacci
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/BirthplaceMaps/Places/Pisa.html

Greece of Archimedes
http://www.mcs.drexel.edu/~crorres/Archimedes/contents.html

NOVA – Pyramids: The Inside Story
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pyramid/

Stonehenge
http://www.sacredsites.com/1st30/stonehen.html

Facts & News

History of Geometry: Now and Then
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/GreekScience/Students/Jordana/MATH.html

History of Pi
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/HistTopics/Mathematical_games.html

Information on the Pyramid Builders
http://www.libraries.wvu.edu/delany/pyramid.htm

Mathematics and Archaeology
http://math.truman.edu/~thammond/history/MegalithicMathematics.html

Pi and Other Constants
http://www.cecm.sfu.ca/~pborwein/PISTUFF/Apistuff.html

Culture & Politics

Archimedes of Syracuse
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Archimedes.html

Euclid of Alexandria
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Euclid.html

How Fibonacci and the History of Pi are related
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Fibonacci.html

Tu Ch’ung Chi – separate discovery of the irrational number Pi
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Tsu.html

Images

Aerial Image of Stonehenge
http://www.sacredsites.com/1st30/stonehen.html

Builders of the Pyramid hieroglyphs
http://www.libraries.wvu.edu/delany/pyramid.htm

Egytian Square Farming with Irrigation
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/GreekScience/Students/Jordana/MATH.html\

Famous Rhind Papyrus that shows how Pi was used to build the Pyramids
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Diagrams/Rhind_papyrus.jpeg

NOVA Online: Pyramids
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pyramid/

Pictures of  Archimedes
http://www.mcs.drexel.edu/~crorres/Archimedes/contents.html

Pi Graphics
http://www.ima.umn.edu/~arnold/graphics.html