Intro: Tetrahedron Platonic Solid | | : United States 8th

Intro: Tetrahedron Platonic Solid

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United States 8th

Discover the tetrahedron, 1 of the 5 Platonic solids that have intrigued mathematicians, architects, and philosophers for thousands of years. This three-dimensional shape is formed by only 4 equilateral triangles. Learn to build this basic 3D shape as a starting point for many more future projects.

Cover image

Overview and Objectives

05:00

Facilitators set the groundwork for students to understand the purpose and components of the project with a well-defined set of learning objectives. By delving into the lesson's fundamentals, students gain the confidence and insight to craft their unique renditions of the project.

Assign this lesson as a student resource. Have students read and watch the video.

This section prepares students to engage the lesson. Throughout the teaching of this entire lesson, the facilitator provides an opportunity for students to collaborate with each other and provide feedback on their individual or group project.

Preparation

30:00

Equip students for before starting the lesson by familiarizing them with frequently used vocabulary words, enhancing their writing skills, and engaging in constructive building exercises.

Imagine

10:00

Learn about the properties of the tetrahedron as one of the Platonic solids.

Common Core Mathematics

For CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.8.G.A.2 begin by introducing the featured platonic soild. Explore the idea that a two-dimensional figure is congruent to another if it can be transformed through rotations, reflections, and translations. As you examine the tetrahedron, encourage your students to describe the congruence between different figures using these transformations.

Platonic Solids List (bold is the featured shape in this lesson):

  • Tetrahedron: A tetrahedron is a three-dimensional geometric shape with four faces, and each face is an equilateral triangle. It has four vertices and six edges.
  • Hexahedron (Cube): The hexahedron, often referred to as a cube, is characterized by having six square faces. It has eight vertices and twelve edges.
  • Octahedron: An octahedron is a polyhedron with eight faces, and each face is an equilateral triangle. It has six vertices and twelve edges.
  • Dodecahedron: The dodecahedron has twelve regular pentagonal faces. It features twenty vertices and thirty edges.
  • Icosahedron: An icosahedron is a three-dimensional shape composed of twenty equilateral triangle faces. It has twelve vertices and thirty edges.

Build

15:00

Build a tetrahedron with 4 triangular faces.

Watch the video to get an idea of the project's structure and a demonstration of how it works. Some may figure out how to construct the project just from pausing the video or looking at a few images from the steps. The instructions are helpful for new builders or those seeking general guidance.

NGSS

For MS-ETS1-1 - ENGINEERING DESIGN present the problem to the students: design an invention to improve the natural habitiat for the animal made in Build can efficiently thrive in. Discuss the criteria (e.g., efficiency, cost-effectiveness, environmental impact) and constraints (e.g., available materials, budget) for their designs. Discuss relevant scientific principles with the students. And for MS-ETS1-2 - ENGINEERING DESIGN guide students in evaluating their prototype's performance against the defined criteria and constraints. Students should also consider potential impacts on the environment and people. Based on the evaluation, ask students to refine and improve their designs. This iterative process allows them to make modifications to their water wheels to increase efficiency or address any shortcomings.

Common Core Mathematics

CCSS.Math.Content.8.G.A.2

Understand that a two-dimensional figure is congruent to another if the second can be obtained from the first by a sequence of rotations, reflections, and translations; given two congruent figures, describe a sequence that exhibits the congruence between them.

Eighth graders can navigate the world of congruence and similarity using the diverse tools provided by STEAM. Whether manipulating physical transparencies or harnessing geometry software, they can observe and implement sequences of transformations, seeing firsthand the congruence between figures. By actively engaging in rotations, reflections, and translations, the abstract nature of congruence is demystified, fostering a profound, experiential grasp of the concept.

ISTE Students

1.6.c Creative Communicator

Students communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively by creating or using a variety of digital objects such as visualizations, models or simulations.

Introduce students to a variety of digital tools and media that can enhance their communication. This could include graphic design software, multimedia creation tools, video editing software, or presentation platforms. Help students choose the appropriate tools based on their communication goals and the requirements of their project.

Florida - NGSSS

MA.8.GR.2.1

Given a preimage and image generated by a single transformation, identify the transformation that describes the relationship.

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