Creating a method for spiral study
Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 7:11 am
My daughter is entering her first science fair and is interested in the Fibonacci sequence and the golden mean. She really likes the way spirals show up in nature. We came to this subject via multiplication studies-math is the science of patterns. This web sight is one of her reference (page 11)
http://spigotsciencemag.com/site/spigot-issues/patterns
Her question is: If there are patterns in math are there patterns in nature?
Her hypothesis is:""Yes there are pattens in nature because she has seen them in pinecones, sunflowers, artichokes.
I'm concerned we are being too broad and need some help guiding her to a focused topic. She likes the patterns in sunflowers, pinecones, pineapples, artichokes, broccoli romanesco and brussels sprouts. So we thought she should focus on spirals.
After collecting samples, taking pictures and coloring them to show the spirals, we need to create a method for her to duplicated them by herself using the Fibonacci numbers.
Any suggestions for a 3rd grader to do this for each the different samples she is planning on using?
Also, is this a math topic or a botany topic?
Thank-you,
Niki
http://spigotsciencemag.com/site/spigot-issues/patterns
Her question is: If there are patterns in math are there patterns in nature?
Her hypothesis is:""Yes there are pattens in nature because she has seen them in pinecones, sunflowers, artichokes.
I'm concerned we are being too broad and need some help guiding her to a focused topic. She likes the patterns in sunflowers, pinecones, pineapples, artichokes, broccoli romanesco and brussels sprouts. So we thought she should focus on spirals.
After collecting samples, taking pictures and coloring them to show the spirals, we need to create a method for her to duplicated them by herself using the Fibonacci numbers.
Any suggestions for a 3rd grader to do this for each the different samples she is planning on using?
Also, is this a math topic or a botany topic?
Thank-you,
Niki