Real Life Geometry A WebQuest for High School Geometry
Designed by: Victoria Veer
vveer@augusta.k12.va.us
Introduction:
This WebQuest is for you to explore some of the practical applications of Geometry. So many of you have
asked me, “When will we ever use this?” – and here you will hopefully find many answers.
The Task:
You are to investigate five (5) of the websites in the list of Practical Applications of Geometry. You will be
required to fill out a worksheet describing your experience and your thoughts. Please print out the worksheet (if
it has not already been provided to you) and use it to record your experiences and your thoughts. You will need
to answer all the given questions and you are free to add any other (appropriate) comments as you see fit.
Resources:
Here you will find the list of Practical Applications of Geometry website links. Once again, you are to
choose the five that seem most interesting to you. If none of these seem interesting “Google” real life geometry
and see what sites they suggest. You may use any you find as long as you document their web address.
Practical Applications of Geometry
Art – Fractals
Art & Math - Fractals
Art – Native American
Native American Geometry
Art – Paper Mosaics
Origami
Bridges
Geometry of Bridges
Buildings & Car
Geometry of Building and Car
Communications
Satellite Receiver (PARABOLA)
Computer Graphics
Computer Graphics
Roof Angles
Construction - Roof Angles
Construction - Trades Entrance Exam
Entrance Exam (p.9 - 16 math part)
DNA modeling
DNA modeling
History – War
Geometry to Improve War Tactics
Medical Imaging
Medical Imaging
Quilting
Quilt Designs
Remodeling a Home
Home Improvement Project
Robotics
Geometry in Robot Design
Sculpture
Geometric Sculpture
Security – Hand Biometrics
Security - Hand Biometrics
Skateboard Ramp
Build a Skateboard Ramp
Tiling
Art of Tiling
Toys – Kite Construction
Toys - Kite Construction
Bridge Constructions
Geometry in Bridge Construction
Any other website you find that uses shapes, measurements, areas, volumes, angles… you may use it.
Evaluation:
There are no right answers and no wrong answers. This is about who you are and what you enjoy and what you
think. Your worksheet will be graded and recorded as one Daily grade. Your grade will come from how
thoroughly you responded to the questions. One word answers will be worth one point each. Each Brief
description will be worth 3 points. Be sure to list at least 3 things you found at the website and what you
learned at the site for which you are giving a brief description. Opinions are worth a point each. Once again –
thoroughness is the key – there are no wrong opinions, there are no right opinions.
Conclusion:
Upon completion of this WebQuest, you should be able to see the value in understanding basic geometric
concepts. They are used everywhere!
References:
Please see last pages of this document.
Real Life Geometry Worksheet
Investigate five of the links under the Practical Applications of Geometry list. State the five links in the table
below and give a brief description of what you found there. Also, in your brief description, include a sentence
describing what you learned at that site.
Site Link
Brief Description of (1)What You Found and (2)What You Learned
(1)
1.
(2)
(1)
2.
(2)
(1)
3.
(2)
(1)
4.
(2)
(1)
5.
(2)
6. Of these five sites, which did you enjoy the most?
7. Of these five sites, which did you find the most interesting?
8. Of these five sites, which did you think you might want to learn more about?
9. Of these five sites, which did you think was the most useful?
10. Of these five sites, which do you see yourself using in your future?
11. What is your opinion of an activity like this?
12. Would you like to do more of these?
References
http://www.freshpark.com/?gclid=COuzmJb3jYgCFQOXHgod5GO6Cw
http://www.photo.net/philip-greenspun/photos/pcd0795/roman-forums-nuns-71.tcl
http://www.quilt-design.com/qdshopenglish/categories.asp
http://www.papermosaics.co.uk/
http://www.fractal.org/Bewustzijns-Besturings-Model/Fractals-Useful-Beauty.htm (Art – Fractals)
http://www.earthmeasure.com/Designs/index.html (Art - Native American Geometry)
http://www.papermosaics.co.uk/gallery.html (Origami – Paper Mosaics)
http://www.queens.cam.ac.uk/queens/images/WinBridg.html (Bridge Building)
http://www.afcsat.com/dual.html (Satellite Receiver (PARABOLA))
http://www.tradesecrets.org/pdf/077_Entrance_Study_Guide.pdf (Entrance Exam)
http://tandem.bu.edu/knex/knex.pdf (DNA Modeling)
http://geometryalgorithms.com/history.htm#Greek (History - Geometers through History)
http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/geometry/essay.htm (History - Geometry to Improve War Tactics)
http://www.cwc.ca/products/trusses/shapes.php (Geometry of Roof Trusses)
http://www.math.tamu.edu/~bangerth/about_work.html (Medical Imaging)
http://www.electricquilt.com/Albums/99/9909/9909p1.htm (Quilt Designs)
http://www.tripos.com/index.php?family=modules,SimplePage,show_class&class=3 (Protein Modeling)
http://www.tedlarson.com/robots/balancingbot.htm (Geometry in Robot Design)
http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/56449.html (Roof Angles)
http://www.georgehart.com/zomebook/additions.html (Geometric Sculpture)
http://biometrics.cse.msu.edu/hand_proto.html (Security – Hand Biometrics)
http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/56447.html (Build a Skateboard Ramp)
http://www.uh.edu/hti/cu/2005/2/01.pdf (Structural Engineering)
http://www.cit.gu.edu.au/~anthony/kites/tetra/plan/ (Toys – Kite Construction)
http://www.georgehart.com/zomebook/additions.html (Unusual Constructions)