Babylonian Spiral
(MathPickle, 2015)
The Scientific Method is best taught in math class with mini universes where students must experiment and deduce the laws that govern.
The Babylonians knew a lot of right triangles, but as far as we know, they never proved the Pythagorean theorem. This Babylonian Spiral is a construct that uses right triangles, but I will leave it up to you to find the rules governing its construction. I don’t think you will need me to email a solution. Your students are bright enough.
Standards for Mathematical Practice
MathPickle puzzle and game designs engage a wide spectrum of student abilities while targeting the following Standards for Mathematical Practice:
MP1 Toughen up!
This is problem solving where our students develop grit and resiliency in the face of nasty, thorny problems. It is the most sought after skill for our students.
MP3 Work together!
This is collaborative problem solving in which students discuss their strategies to solve a problem and identify missteps in a failed solution. MathPickle recommends pairing up students for all its puzzles.
MP6 Be precise!
This is where our students learn to communicate using precise terminology. MathPickle encourages students not only to use the precise terms of others, but to invent and rigorously define their own terms.
MP7 Be observant!
One of the things that the human brain does very well is identify pattern. We sometimes do this too well and identify patterns that don't really exist.