“Children are not limited in what they can do when they have mathematical skills because to a mathematician, “real life” is a special case.” ~ Unknown

We’ve been studying Fibonacci numbers in the MAC class. In the early 1200’s, an Italian mathematician Leonardo of Pisa (nicknamed Fibonacci) discovered the famous Fibonacci sequence. This sequence falls under the Mathematical domain of number theory.

The Fibonacci sequence: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21… To get each subsequent term, add the sum of the two numbers that precede it. For example, 1+1=2, 1+2=3, 3+5=8…

Tiling squares whose sides are consecutive Fibonacci numbers and then drawing an arc connecting opposite corners creates a Fibonacci spiral which approximates the Golden spiral.

This sequence of the Fibonacci numbers turn up in many areas of nature, as we discovered by reading Swirl by Swirl; Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman.

We even discovered that there is a type of poem called a “Fib” which is written in the Fibonacci sequence according to syllables per line. For example, here’s a “Fib” poem we’re studying in class this week:

Dunk!
by Gregory Pincus

Slam!

Dunk!
Soaring…
I’m scoring.

Crowd keeps on roaring.

In my dreams I’m unstoppable.

Notice the syllable pattern: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8

Be on the lookout for “Fibs” written by students (coming to their blogs in the near future!)

Resources:

http://fabulousfibonacci.blogspot.com/

http://oakford.wordpress.com/2008/11/24/fibonacci-day/

http://www.mathsinsider.com/cool-math-quotes/