A WebQuest for 10th Grade Geometry Students Designed by Songül Bozyel Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation Thales of Miletus... Yes, he is the one who derived that famous Thales' Theorem. Did he have a sudden thought or was he inspired by something? Here are two stories: "Thales is looking at the Great Pyramid with Pharaoh Amasis and the abbot of the God Amon in an Egypt visit. For the purpose of humiliating Thales in the presence of pharaoh, the abbot challenges to Thales and asks: "How high is this pyramid?" Thales takes his scepter and thrusts it into sand at the point where the shadow of the pyramid finishes. After some basic calculations carried out on a stone tablet, Thales declares the height of the pyramid as 160 paces. The abbot and pharaoh are at a loss as to what to say or do." "Miletus is a trading city lies along coast, and trade is carried out by ships. As soon as the ship is visible in the sea, it is important to estimate the time of ship's coming into harbor to adjust prices. Thales, as a merchant, takes two sticks nailed into a cross and goes to top of a tower. And he finds the distance between harbor and ship." How did Thales found the height of the pyramid and the distance between the ship and harbor? Why the abbot wanted to humiliate him in the presence of pharaoh? Were there other studies of Thales which were annoyed people? Journey to Thales' world is beginning... In the first part of your project: you'll prepare a biography of Thales of Miletus. This biography should include information at least about the place that Thales is from, his interests, the time period in which he lived, his interactions with his colleagues or students. The second part of your project will include your explanations about how Thales found the height of the pyramid and the distance between the ship and harbor. The third part of your project will focus on Thales' mathematics and in other professions, and these studies'importance and reflections in that time period and in later periods. Firstly, groups with 3 members will be assigned in the class. Groups will be free to share the parts of the project in preparation process. However, please pay attention to the fact that; it is responsibility of any member to know all parts. The entire project will be completed in four weeks. At the second and the third
weeks, we'll discuss your studies that you carried out outside of the class in the course.
Dead line for submission of project repots is the class period at the fourth week. At the
fifth week presentations of your projects will be started. You may choose any presentation
way for your project.
Here are the suggested links to find related
information for each part of your project: Visit the following web sites to review
information for biography part of your project: Visit the following web sites to review
information for your explanations in the second part of your project (Sometimes there will
be graphical represantations as clues: Visit the following web sites to review
information for your project's third part:
At the third week of your study, you will be asked to complete a peer evaluation form. Besides a group grade will be assigned by using the rubric given below. You can use this rubric as a checklist in preparation process of your subject.
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