Pattern manifests itself in many ways through properties such as symmetry, repetition, translation, and illusion. This guide, appropriate for use with grades 6-12, presents patterns that are formed entirely by straight lines, yet appear to contain or be formed by curves. Exploring these geometrical shapes offers an opportunity to discover various…

This book contains transparency masters, duplication masters, and activities for teaching tessellating art. Part 1 gives instructions and information for creating transparencies from the paper masters in this book. Part 2 provides the transparency masters along with detailed instructions about when and how to use each of the transparencies.…

Mathematics can be used to analyze musical rhythms, to study the sound waves that produce musical notes, to explain why instruments are tuned, and to compose music. This book explores the relationship between mathematics and music through proportions, patterns, Fibonacci numbers or the Golden Ratio, geometric transformations, trigonometric…

Discusses the use of flexible straws for teaching properties of figures and families of shapes. Describes a way to make various two- or three-dimensional geometric shapes. Lists eight advantages of the method. (YP)

Uses pentominoes to examine the concepts of congruence, similarity, transformations, tessellations, networks, perimeter, area, and volume in a problem-solving, cooperative learning environment. Discusses the construction of three-dimensional pentominoes. (YP)

Provides four activities asking students to observe and classify star patterns and to identify polygons and continuous paths while observing similarities and differences. Presents the objectives, directions, extensions, answers, references, and worksheet for each activity. (YP)

The production and application of images based on fractal geometry are described. Discussed are fractal language groups, fractal image coding, and fractal dialects. Implications for these applications of geometry to mathematics education are suggested. (CW)

The activities presented in this guide are designed for elementary age students, and intended to provide hands-on, integrated learning experiences. A learning station format is indicated for open ended activities which include a "Preliminary Activity: Free Exploration First!", an "Introductory Activity: Architect/Builder", and…

This document describes the contributions of African peoples to the science of mathematics. The development of a number system is seen as related to need. Names of numbers, time reckoning, gesture counting, and counting materials are examined. Mystical beliefs about numbers and special meanings in pattern are presented. Reproductions of patterns,…