Circular Reasoning Winter 2006Geometric Explanations from SheerenCircular Reasoning GalleryThe work on this shelf is powered by you and |
Circular Reasoning
Fraction Circle pictures Here are some pictures of Fraction Circles and bigger Fraction Circles made with Circular Reasoning. The new Squeak version is available! If you don't have Squeak, click on the mouse logo in the column at left and follow the download links. To get Circular Reasoning stuff into Squeak, you can: CircularReasoning1.zip. Put the files in this archive into your Squeak program folder (the folder that contains your copy of Squeak.exe). When you start up Squeak, open "CircularReasoning1.image". OR If you'd rather add the needed files to an image of your own, here they are:
Load fileIn files through world menu/open.../file list. Load Spanish translation file through world menu/open.../Language Editor for../es, then press the "merge" button and select "es.translation" Load the project file through "load project from file..." in the world menu. The fileIn files (or the image) will give you new objects in the Objects window under the Fractures button. FractureA fracture is a manipulable object that can represent angles in many ways--as sectors, circle segments, arcs, angles, satellites, and vectors. This makes it easy for children to relate different representations of angles and to distinguish the angle itself from arbitrary aspects of a particular representation (for example, the length of sides or area between the sides in a given representation). Below are details on what you'll find in the viewer and halo menu for the fracture. Viewergeometry:numerator--A number representing the numerator of the fraction made by the fracture. When the denominator is 360, the numerator is the angle of the fracture. geometry:denominator--A number representing the denominator of the fraction made by the fracture. fracture color--This is the area where you can create a custominzed fracture. drops & sweeps--Control whether a sector is swept out when the fracture turns (sweeps), what that sector looks like (dropBorderColor, dropBorderWidth, dropColor), whether it is dropped (drops) after it is swept out, and whether created sectors change color (dropColorWheelSize) or shade (dropChangesShade). Halo menuChoose a shape for your fracture from sector, segment, arc, angle, satellites, or vector. Use the "fracture color" section in the viewer to customize the shape. Fraction CircleFraction circles are aggregates of fractures that can be changed any way a fracture can be changed. In addition, you can change the number of fractures in the circle with the "divisions" item in the "fraction circle" section of the viewer, and you can "slide" the fractures open or shut like a camera shutter. Known bugsColors bleed out of sectors and segments at certain headings. Previous versionIf you like, you can still download the java version. Curriculum SupportCheck out an Introduction to Circular Reasoning. Here's the syllabus for the Winter 2006 Circular Reasoning course at Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development. Here are activity cards to accompany the software:
Here is a suggested order of presentation of Circular Reasoning activities. Here's a pretest of selected NAEP questions. Here are some activities for exploring triangles:
Here are the activities from the activity cards in a alternative format: Click on items in the left column to see other children's Circular Reasoning creations! |
Leone Learning Systems, Inc. (LLS) is a North Shore company that provides online courses for kids anywhere and local teaching and tutoring services for students in Chicago and the Northern Suburbs of Chicagoland. LLS also provides a free geometry software package for children age 6 and up, and free resources for teachers and parents. This site includes information about classes taught, availability for tutoring, learning activities for kids, lesson plans, and ongoing software and curriculum research and development efforts. |