Math and Science: Measuring Angles

Up until now, our studies in Math and Science haven't really overlapped much.  There has been some reading of thermometers and volume measures; we haven't even graphed results.  Use of the protractor is yet another form of measurement, though one that isn't used in our daily lives, so I consider this experiment to have led to as much math learning as science.

Factor Trees

BatBoy and SpiderGirl have been playing with multiplication lately.  The Beast Academy workbook (3B) has many problems requiring the use of multiplication and BatBoy is learning a good portion of the lower tables just through use.  In the car one evening, he was talking to me about finding all the combinations that would give a product of 12 (I think) and so I offered to show him factor trees.  SpiderGirl immediately wanted to know all about it too.

When I was in school, factor trees looked like this:

Snowflake Symmetry

We got a new microscope in the summer and around November, we saw some beautiful photographs of snowflakes.  I've also been telling the kids that real snowflakes have six-point symmetry, which they, of course, wanted to see for themselves.  I planned (without saying anything to anyone else) that at the first snowfall, we should bring our microscope outside and take a look.



The first snowfall of the year happened a week or two before Christmas.  I was tired from running around to rehearsals and concerts and parties.  I figured, we can wait until the morning.  Then, I thought, "You know what?  It will probably snow again." 

It never did.  Now, I'm thinking about getting the garden ready for spring.

Look Mom!  I can SEE the six-point symmetry.  She has excellent sight.