Final Project

Even if we had a couple of semesters of geometry and could cover everything that is currently being taught in high school geometry courses, one would still need to be flexible because the geometry curriculum is continually changing. The purpose of this project is to show you that you can learn about and then teach new topics in geometry. In the process we will also satisfy the speaking designator.

You will choose a topic (see below for some suggestions - if you wish to choose a topic that is not on the list, then first check with Dr. Sarah) related to geometry that we have not yet covered in class and you will prepare a 15-18 minute PowerPoint presentation. Your PowerPoint file (yourfirstname.ppt) will be due as an attachment onto the WebCT bulletin board by 11:55pm on Dec 10 (presentations occur from 9-11:30 am on Dec 11).

Your presentation will consist of the following portions:

a) Introduction
b) Summarize some of the "big-picture" ideas so that you can teach them to the class. This portion will take up most of your presentation time.
c) Briefly discuss some ways (activities, worksheet ideas, references ...) to bring aspects from your topic into school classrooms.
d) Briefly reflect on the relationship of your topic to the NCTM Standards for Geometry, Measurement and/or Reasoning and Proof
e) Conclusion

Your project will be graded based on the depth of the mathematics, and the clarity of your PowerPoint and explanations.

Part 1: Choose a Topic (first come first served) - must be posted to the entire class on the WebCT bulletin board. Check the bulletin board before you post to determine which topics have already been chosen.

Part 2: Obtaining References- You will create a list of useful preliminary references and web reference addresses. In addition, after each reference, you will summarize (in your own words) what is contained within each reference.

Part 3: Powerpoint file and presentation, and (on paper or index cards), presentation notes and a final list of references with a summary of what is in each reference and how you used the reference.

Some Suggested Topics

  • Can You Hear the Shape of a Drum?
  • Conic Sections
  • Double Bubble and HoneyComb Conjectures
  • Efficiency and Strength of Regular Polyhedra and Applications to Architecture
  • Fractals
  • Geometry and Art
  • Geometry and DNA
  • Mapping the Brain
  • Number Patterns in Geometry
  • Packing Problems (Packing Geometric Shapes Into Other Geometric Shapes)
  • Surfaces
  • Symmetry
  • Tessellations
  • Topology
  • Vertex-edge graphs
    • If you wish to choose a topic that is not on the list, then first check with Dr. Sarah to get it approved