Teacher's Curriculum Guide

The Golden Ratio in Nature next

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By Lettie McGuire
Educational Goal:
The Goal of this Lesson
is to introduce the
mathematical concept
of the Golden Ratio
tomiddle and high
school age students. In
this beginning lesson,
the Golden Ratio will
be introduced
by showing its
occurence throughout
nature.
Students will be able to connect the Golden
Ratio to direct natural objects they might see
in their everyday life. This book can
compliment the student's math and science
curriculum.
Perceptual Options:
Students are offered a variety of visual
representations using computer images,
photos, and correlating animations. All these
visual aids help provide clear and
diverse multiple representations of the
Golden Ratio.

Linguistic Options:
Recorded audio, audio
scaffolding (Pedro, Hali
and Monty), and
computer text-tospeech options provide
a variety of linguistic
options from which the
student can choose
from.
Cognitive Learning
Methods:
The golden ratio
concept is matched to
student's prior
knowledge of nature.
This type of
matching boosts each
students working
memory.Questions
asked throughout the
book demonstrate
inquiry based
instruction, using self
generated
learning methods to
increase students
interest and attention.
The repetition and repeating visuals of the
golden ratio help store the lesson in the
students long term memory andworking
memory. Identifying
similarities and differences in of the golden
ratio throughout nature allows students to
consider and remember what was learned.
Clarifying animations assist in keeping
students sustained engagement.
Assessment:
Reflection and review at the conclusion allow
the student to retain what they have learned.

Students are encouraged to continue research

about the golden ratio.
Applications to Neuroscience Research:
The concept of the Golden Ratio is also
supported by developmental cognitive
researchers and neuroscientists like Kristy
VanMarle, PhD. She currentlyresearches
whether humans perceive geometric figures
that bear this ratio as more aesthetically
pleasing than figures which bear different
ratios.
In one of her current studies she is trying to
learn if babies (who cannot have had much
experience with the Golden Ratio) prefer it
over other "non-golden" ratios. In our task,
babies are shown two rectangles, side-byside, on computer monitors and we measure
how long they look at each rectangle. For
each pair of rectangles, one has the
dimensions of a Golden Rectangle and one
does not. If babies prefer the Golden Ratio,
they are expected to look longer at Golden
Rectangles than at non-golden rectangles.
Evidence that babies prefer Golden
Rectangles would suggest not only that this
preference appears in humans, but also that it
has an innate basis.
Source of Cognitive Research
Information:http://bengal.missouri.edu/~v
anmarlek/
Musings of the
author: http://mcguiret560.edublogs.org

Teacher's Curriculum Guide:

Introductory Information about the Golden Ratio
About the Golden Ratio: The Golden Ratio can be illustrated within special dimensions

of Sprials, Triangles and Rectangles where the ratio of the length of the short side to

the long side is .618, was noted by ancient Greek architects as the most visually
pleasing rectangle and its dimensions were used to construct buildings such as
theParthenon.
The Golden Ratio has also been used extensively inclassical paintings where it was
believed to produce the most visually pleasing figures. The ratio also appears all over
nature, such as the number ofpetals on some flowers, biological forms like
thenautilus shell, mollusks, animal antlers, leaves,human proportions, galaxy spirals,
and the relations between harmonious tones in music.

The Golden Ratio in a Spiral and Triangle

The Golden Ratio, Finding Spirals in Nature and Beyond.

Table of Contents
Page 1.

A Basic Ratio Between A and B

Page 2.

Using Squares and Rectangles to Build a Pattern

Page 3.

The Golden Ratio in a Snail Shell

Page 4.

The Golden Ratio in a Sea Shell

Page 5.

The Golden Ratio in the Skin of the Pineapple

Page 6:

The Golden Ratio in the Animal Kingdom

Page 7:

The Golden Ratio in Astronomy

Page 8:

Review, Assessment and Next Steps

Page 1: Welcome to the The Golden Ratio

Golden
Ratio

The

begins with
a simple ratio

a and
b

between

Page 2: The Golden Ratio shown using squares and rectangles.

The formation of the Golden

Ratio spiral pattern can be
shown
using squares and rectangles.
Page 3: The Golden Ratio shown in the snail shell

The Golden Ratio

is shown here
in the repeating
spiral shape
of the
snail shell

Snail Shell

Page 4: The Golden Ratio is found in Sea Shells

Next time you go to the Ocean,

pick up a seashell.
Can you find the repeating spiral pattern
of the Golden Ratio?
Page 5: The Golden Ratio in the skin of the pineapple

Look at the natural pattern in

the outer skin of a pinneapple.
Can you find the repeating spiral
pattern of the Golden Ratio?

Page 6: The Golden Ratio found in the animal kingdom

The Spiral Pattern of the

Golden Ratio
Can also be seen
in animal horns and tusks

Galaxy
Page 7:

In addition to natural patterns

found here on earth,
the spiral pattern

of the golden ratio

can also be seen
in the pattern of
our galaxy.
Page 8: The Golden Ratio is found in many places throughout nature.

See if you can find more examples of the golden ratio

in nature and design. The golden ratio can be identified
in other natural forms as well as the shape of the spiral.
Review:
1. Does a pine cone show the pattern of the golden ratio?

2. Go outside, look around at nature and discover more

examples.
3. Search for books about the golden ratio at your library.
4. Ask your teacher for more examples of the golden ratio

in nature and your environment. Enjoy, explore and

have fun!

The End.
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