Inside the Teacher Google Slideshow students will learn how Spirals connect with the S.T.E.A.M subjects. I want students to keep asking questions – what possible spirals are found in Nature, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math?
Science Spirals
DNA double helix is like a double spiral staircase. The structure of DNA is a double helix is a double stranded molecule that twists like a spiral staircase. The outsides of the molecule, the railings of the staircase, are made of deoxyribose sugars alternating with phosphates. This part of the molecule is sometimes called the "backbone". Humans and or designers have looked to nature in order to create a design solution for getting from one level of a house to another.
*I want the students to see this connection as biomimicry.
Whirlpool – the spinning direction of drain water too forms a spiral, mostly by how the water is bumped, sloshed, or distributed when it starts to drain. I am hoping that seeing these at-home toilet bathroom connections triggers all students' brains that spirals are all around us!
Hurricanes – Large forces create spirals.
Vine tendrils are soft spirals in nature.
Galaxies will be introduced since they are twisted collections of stars and gasses. Galaxies have beautiful shapes and spirals are included.
Horns and tails – consider the various animals.
Shells – In snails the long canal spiral protects the snail.
Boat ear moon – a thin, light shell, low-spired, with a voluminous body whorl angled at its base and a shallow suture that becomes deeper as shell.
Technology Spirals
Doppler radar – Students will learn the value of technology craftsmanship when creating technology-based Google Slideshow presentations about spirals. How does technology support our safety regarding spiral tornadoes?
Engineering Spirals
Spiral screws-extractor is itself a coarse-pitched tapered screw thread.
Euler spiral is a curve commonly referred to as spiro, clothoids, or cornu spirals. These types of spirals are often used in railway construction or highway engineering.
Art spirals
Vincent Van Gogh's The Starry Night shows swirling structures have turbulent properties matching those observed in the molecular clouds that give birth to stars.
Katsushika Hokusai's Great Wave has been a symbol of not just tsunamis, but hurricanes and plane crashes into the sea, all depicting spirals.
I also want students to consider these types of artwork which could be used as an inspiration when they design their own spiral composition art piece.
Math Spirals
Students will see a simple example in the starfish, the body of which actually displays the Fibonacci number five. As well as its regular pentagon shape, the starfish also exhibits the Golden Ratio! – more Math woven into the spiral with Sunflowers.
Sunflowers are more than just beautiful flowers, they're also a mathematical marvel. The pattern of the seeds within a sunflower follows the Fibonacci sequence, of 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144… this spiral links to the M in S.T.E.A.M. The Fibonacci sequence is each number in the sequence is the sum of the previous two numbers. Interesting sunflowers follow this math pattern in nature. I also want to link back to Vincent Van Gogh's obsessions with spirals. At this point in 1888 his spirals are again in his artworks titled Sunflowers as well.
