Geometric+Boogie

=**Geometric!!!**= Today I'm going to teach you "Geometric Size"... Size change, that is. In this 11th Grade __g__eometry class, this unit will be dealing with scalar transformations and similarity. It's astounding how much size change can drastically effect the characteristics of an object, and I'm not just talking about shapes, blocks, or images on a grid. Imagine what it would be like if you were twice the height of the average person. How much food would you have to eat just to sustain your health? Where would you buy your clothes, because you know Walmart is not going to have your size. By the end of this unit not only will you be able to think //mathematically//, but also //critically// about what it means to change size.

The resources on this page are set up in chronological order which follows along with the order of topics learned throughout the course of the unit. This is a ten day unit. So for certain days of the unit, I have found you neat pictures, videos, and websites that will help strengthen your grasp of scalar transformations by forcing you to think outside of the box to make connections between the resource and the concept of scalar transformations. Try to stretch out your imagination, and think with an open mind as we progress through the unit and you progress through this resource file. I've given you a brief intro for each resource which should guide you in what to look for.

And lastly, but most importantly, remember that this unit is a collaboration with Mr. Gonzales's English class, where we will be reading __Gulliver's Travels__ by Jonathan Swift. It's pretty simple to realize what the book has to do with this geometry unit just by reading the first few pages. But since I know you are all mathemageniuses, I know you can analyze this book from all different perspectives... Which leads me into my next point: The essential question for this collaborative unit is //How can difference in size change perspective?//

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Anyways, before we get started, I want you to decently scan this page. Try to get the gist of what each day is going to bring to the table. Then I want you to complete this short activity/survey so I know you've at least browsed and thought a bit about this resource file. Don't worry. It's not that bad, and you can always look back at this page if you need some inspiration, although I don't think you'll need to. Have fun!!

DAY ONE: These are some images of examples of scalar models. What do you think that they are scalar models of?

DAY TWO: I want you to look at each of these video clips. Name at least 3 different things in each clip that have to deal with size changes. There will be bonus points if you can note anything that doesn't seem to add up... (just kidding about the bonus points, but I do want you to think about it for class).

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(For this last video, you can click stop after the scene is over...) media type="youtube" key="L9nCNJ3cZSk?rel=0" width="560" height="315"

DAY THREE: For day three of the unit plan, I've assigned for you guys to explore floorplanner.com where I want you guys to create an account (which is free, by the way), and have fun designing some blueprints for rooms. Right now, I don't necessarily want you to create anything specific. For now, I just want you guys to get familiar with the tools and how to create things that are new. If you have any questions during your exploration, please make note of it and ask me the next day in class. Chances are that other people might have the same question too. So, click on the link above, and have fun.

DAY FOUR: To follow up day three's exploration assignment on floorplanner, for today you guys are given the assignment to choose a room in your house, measure everything significant in it, and make a blueprint of that room. You're going to have to print it out and label all of the dimensions. But the catch is, all your calculated measurements must be scaled to Lilliputian size. Please also include all of your calculation work of your Lilliputian measurements along with your printed/labeled blueprint. Here's an example of a blueprint I've done on my room (sorry I didn't include the measurements in mine). Now we're in the part of the unit where we are learning about proportions. You're going to come across a few word problems where everything that you need to know might not be so easy to see. I've included this clip where the man goes through the steps of how to solve a word problem... and to top it all off, the problems that he does have to do with proportions. media type="youtube" key="bQ3FgluChH8?rel=0" width="420" height="315"

DAY FIVE: Now that you have your blueprints ready, it's time to make your Lilliputian scalar model of that room... IN ACTUAL SIZE!!! (duhn, duhn, duhn... scary music). You guys are going to make an accurately scaled model of your chosen room. So, to give you some ideas I've included this really neat website that may give you some ideas on how to create your dioramas. (Flesch-Kincaid Reading Level 10.3)

DAY NINE: Day nine is just jam packed with awesome resources. Starting off with the most important first, I've already announced that there's going to be a test tomorrow. I've included a powerpoint that goes over all the main topics of scalar transformations and similarity that we've learned in class. Please take a look to assure yourself that you are ready for this test.

Now let's look at how all of this applies in real life. You see scale modeling a lot in real life, but what I want to show you is what significant size difference means for people who are really big or really small, kind of like Gulliver in his travels. I've included below two clips, one on really tall people and one on really small people. Then following that I've included websites that talk about some of those people mentioned, and how their height has effected their lives.

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Sultan Kosen (Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 14.5)

Robert Wadlow (Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 11.4)

Sandy Allen (Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 10.8)

Chandra Bahadur Dangi (Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 13.2)

And lastly, I wanted to share this site that talks about the complications that come along with dwarfism. (Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 13.1)