Uploaded by Nathalie Kalina
Geometry in Birch Bark Biting
by Jessica Wesaquate and Andrea Rogers
Grade Level:
Three
Objectives:
- Students will be able to circle the geometric shapes found in a given
birch bark biting. - Students will be able to create their own birch bark biting using three
or more geometric shapes to demonstrate their knowledge of symmetry.
Pre-requisite Knowledge:
Geometric shapes
Materials:
photocopies of birch bark biting examples,
pencils, pencil crayons
Recalling: Engage students in activities that will have them recall familiar
geometric shapes as well as introduce geometric shapes they may not be
familiar with. The geo board is a great resource.
Set:
Make a transparency of a simple birch bark
biting and put it up on the overhead. Have students draw the birch
bark biting in their workbooks and circle the geometric shapes that are
evident to them. Take this time to go over geometric terminology.
- Often visual imagery can help students' visual understanding of 2-D
geometry.
Activity:
Using birch bark biting samples with geometric
shapes (photocopies):
- Have students circle where they
see geometric shapes in the birch bark bitings, indicating what types
of shapes they are. They
could use colored pencil crayons and make a legend at the bottom of
the page to indicate the shapes. - Draw a birch bark biting with
a pencil and paper using three or more different geometric shapes,
assuring symmetrical designs. Students
may use colored pencils to indicate the symmetry.
Assessment:
observation notes, rubric
Aboriginal Perspectives is supported by the University of
Regina, the Imperial Oil Foundation, the Canadian Mathematical Society and
the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences.