Parabolic Curve
An Integrated Math and Art Lesson
Before you do this lesson, have the students practice making parabolic curves with Geoboards and two colors of rubber bands. Once they get the hang of it, they will transfer their knowledge to the tagboard and crochet thread project quite easily.
Each student will need one piece of tagboard (4 x 8), a pencil, ruler, sharp needle with large eye and variegated crochet thread.
Student starts by measuring off half inch increments on two sides only. The sides must touch each other -- therefore they cannot use parallel sides.
The student numbers each increment from 1 to 8 (half inch apart) and 1 to 8 (inch apart). The trick to doing this correctly is that the number one of the short side is also the number 8 of the long side. In other words, start numbering at a dot that is at the far end of where both the numbers meet.
Now, connect the dots with a ruler matching a straight line from number one to number one, two to two, three to three, etc. You have formed a parabolic curve!
Now take another piece of tagboard the same dimensions and proceed as you did above, labeling half inch increments with a tiny dot. Do not draw in the lines this time. Instead, turn the tagboard over and tape the end of the crochet thread to the back somewhere to hold it down. Now turn it over, holding the threaded needle in right hand and tagboard in left.
Look at diagram you made with ruler and pencil. Line up your new tagboard in the same direction. Connect the numbers like you did in the practice tagboard with the crochet thread by making holes with the needle and going up and down. This forms a parabolic curve with the crochet thread.
Turn your tagboard to the sides you did not sew and repeat another parabolic curve. This is a little tricky as you have already put thread through the end holes and must go through the end ones again to form the parabolic curve on the opposite sides.
Now take your remaining thread and go to the back where you will trim the end of the crochet thread and tape it off again.
This makes a nice art display in itself or you could insert a short poem or picture in the "football" shape remaining inside the two parabolic curves. A student could just write their name in a fancy script inside the parabolic curve also. For more intricate designs. you can use all 4 sides and make 4 parabolic curves and your negative space will come out more like a circle than a football shape. I would not advise doing all 4 parabolic curves until students are very adept at making them because they must use shared numbers for each side.
For an extension, you could look up how parabolic curves are used in everyday life. The students will learn more as they head to 7th-12th grades in Math and hopefully, remember this fun activity.
[HOME]
[BIO]
[RESUME]
[CONNECTINGCLASSES]
[KLESSONPLAN
[1LESSONPLAN]
[2LESSONPLAN]
[4LESSONPLAN]
[PRIMARY]
[INTERMEDIATE]
[MI]
[WORKSHOPS]
[PHOTOS]
[PHOTOS2]
[PHOTOS3]
[PHOTOS4]
[WEBSITES]
[ACTIVITIES]
[ACTIVITIES2]
[ACTIVITIES3]