Presents a measurement problem that can be explored by students of varying ability. Discusses aspects that make it accessible in a heterogeneous class. (YDS)

Explains the basics of spherical geometry and describes a series of activities developed for grade 6 middle school students. (YDS)

Describes using clusters of high-quality literature to support the teaching of key geometry and measurement ideas. (Contains 29 references.) (YDS)

Shows how students explored geometric properties of the South Korean flag using proportional reasoning. (YDS)

Examines activities and children's thinking in four main areas of the Geometry Standard in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' (NCTM) "Principles and Standards for School Mathematics": (1) properties of shapes; (2) locations and spatial relationships; (3) transformations and symmetry; and (4) visualization. (Author)

Illustrated is the use of isometric graph paper in the discovery of nonstandard area formulas. The use of definitions, geometric construction, record keeping, and conjectures about triangles, rhombuses, hexagons, parallelograms, isosceles trapezoids, rectangles, and trapezoids are described. (YP)

Challenges abstract mathematics requirements in U.S. high schools. Refutes various philosophical and psychological assumptions underlying math instruction, particularly the correlation between simple numbers and the physical world, the math/logical thinking connection, and frequency of use arguments. Suggests that high schools require only one…

Presents an activity in which students use geometric figures, rep-tiles, to design a tile floor. Rep-tiles are geometric figures of which copies can fit together to form a larger similar figure. Includes reproducible student worksheet. (MKR)

Presents an activity, involving pentagons and using a figure manipulator such as The Geometer's Sketchpad, that requires students to reason geometrically without making unsubstantiated assumptions based on diagrams. (MKR)

Archimedes' method for estimating the value of pi is developed and compared with the Gregory-Machin infinite series method. Programs for the TI-81 calculator for finding the upper and lower bounds using the classical method and estimating pi using infinite series are provided.(Author/MKR)

Attempts to unveil negative images portrayed by Socrates in a dialog with a boy about concepts of squares; illustrates how Socrates' manner may have confused the boy; analyzes the types of questions Socrates favored; and suggests study of this dialogue in teacher preparation programs that attempt to convey more congenial mathematics teaching. (MKR)

Presents activities with 10- and 4-straw flexigons, an object created by stringing together lengths of plastic drinking straws with nylon fishing line. Discusses several geometric theorems that can be demonstrated with flexigons. (MKR)

Presents a strategy for graphing conic sections on the polar plane without using a table of values by beginning with information gained from the graphs of circular functions. (MKR)

Presents a secondary classroom investigation into mathematical modeling techniques with the graphing calculator using a match stick puzzle. Geometric models, through their corresponding area formulas, are constructed, tested, and analyzed graphically to fit specified problem conditions. (Author/MKR)

Uses probability and Pascal's triangle to analyze the game Plinko from the game show "The Price Is Right." (MKR)