Math 151: Geometry for Elementary/Middle School Teachers
Fall 1998
Tuesday/Thursday 9:30-10:45 AM
Instructor:
Dr. Kate Kline
Office: 4433 Everett Tower
Phone: 387-4559
E-mail: kate.kline@wmich.edu
Office Hours:
Tuesday and Thursday 11:00 a.m. - Noon
and by appointment
Required Text:
Mathematics for Elementary Teachers: A Contemporary Approach,
Fourth Edition, by Musser & Burger.
Required Materials:
You will be required to pay $8.50 to the Dept. of Mathematics & Statistics
for a course pack of materials and activities that will be used throughout
the semester. It is strongly suggested that you organize the packet into a
3-ring binder, at least 2 inches in size.
Course Prerequisites: A final course grade of “C” or better in Math 150. Those not meeting
the course prerequisite will be automatically dropped from the course by the Department of
Mathematics & Statistics.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to give prospective teachers a deeper understanding of geometry
and measurement. We will primarily use small groups and discovery learning to develop an
understanding of this material. Emphasis will be placed on reasoning skills and communication
of mathematical ideas. Correct answers are still important, but I will also be interested in your
ability to talk about your solutions and provide evidence to the rest of us that your solution is
indeed correct. I will often ask classmates to respond to others explanations rather than
responding myself in order to encourage thought and reflection.
Active participation in course activities and discussions is expected. I encourage
everyone to share thoughts and ideas with classmates as I hope to promote a climate of spirited
and honest reflection on your ideas about mathematics. It is crucial that you participate seriously
and thoughtfully in the mathematical investigations held in class. I expect you to display
professionalism as future teachers and reflect seriously upon how elementary and middle school
students might think if they did some of the activities in order to make the investigations we do
in class more meaningful.
The format of the course will mainly be small group investigations followed by extension
questions from your packet for homework. Every attempt will be made to help you develop an
understanding of all of those memorized formulas and theorems for geometry & measurement
that you learned when you were in elementary and middle school. As a result, at the end of the
semester you should feel better prepared to help elementary and middle school students
understand these concepts.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
All assignments must be submitted on time. The major requirements of the course are:
1. Group Projects. You will be required to work collaboratively with at least one other
classmate to complete projects. There are 3 group projects scheduled--one on Logo, one on
using measurement and similarity ideas, and one on tessellations. Some in-class time will be
devoted to the completion of the projects. However, you should also plan to spend time outside
of class with your group members to complete projects.
2. Mathematical Reflections. You have various pages in your packet entitled “Mathematical
Reflections.” These “Mathematical Reflections” sections contain a list of questions that
highlight the important ideas from the investigations we do in class. Occasionally, you will be
required to submit a typed response to the questions from the Mathematical Reflections sections.
Regardless of whether you submit your responses or not, you should always think about the
questions in these sections as a good preparation for exams.
3. Logo and Sketchpad Workpages. We will be working with two different types of geometry
software during the semester--Logo and Geometer’s Sketchpad. You will be required to work
with a partner to complete various assignments or workpages on Logo and Sketchpad, and a
sample of these will be collected and graded.
4. Exams. You will be required to take two in-class exams and one final comprehensive exam.
Final grades will be computed on the basis of approximately 360 points from the following:
Major Assessments (In-class exams, group projects)
Minor Assessments (Reflections, Workpages)
Comprehensive Final Exam
60%
12%
28%
Grading Scale:
A
BA
93% - 100%
88% - 92%
CB
C
77% - 81%
71% - 76%
D
E
60% - 65%
Below 60%
B
82% - 87%
DC
66% - 70%
Attendance Policy:
This is a laboratory-oriented course where you will experience many different mathematical
investigations. You will learn from doing the activities what you cannot possibly learn from
reading about them or from copying notes from another student in class. Therefore, attendance
is essential. Not only do excessive absences suggest a lack of professionalism and commitment,
but they guarantee that you will not attain the required objectives of this course. Your final
grade will be lowered by a grade if you have more than 2 absences. If you have excessive
absences (more than 4 for the semester), you will not be able to receive a grade higher than
a “C” regardless of your performance on assignments and exams.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
The course will be divided into five major sections. The schedule below is tentative and
is subject to slight change throughout the semester.
September 1 - September 17
Section 1
Polygons and their Properties
Musser-Burger, Sections 12.1, 12.2, and 12.3
Logo Programming & Workpages
Project: City Scene
September 24 - October 1
Section 2
Area and Perimeter
Musser-Burger, Sections 13.1 and 13.2
October 6
Exam 1
October 8 - October 22
Section 3
Similarity and Congruence
Musser-Burger, Sections 14.1 and 14.2
Project: Plan a Park
October 27 - November 3
Section 4
Surface Area and Volume
Musser-Burger, Sections 12.5, 13.3 and 13.4
November 5
Exam 2
November 10 - December 3
Section 5
Symmetry & Transformations
Musser-Burger, Sections 12.3, 12.4 and 16.1
Geometer’s Sketchpad Workpages
Project: Semi-regular Tessellations
Wednesday, December 9
Final Exam
8:00 - 10:00 AM