Syllabus for Math 305, Principles of Geometry, Fall 2004

Instructor: Dr. Elizabeth Arnold
e-mail: arnoldea@math.jmu.edu
Phone: 568-6532
URL: www.math.jmu.edu/~arnoldea
Office: Burruss 116
Office Hours: M, W 3:30-4:30pm and by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will cover additional topics in Geometry that middle school teachers can use in their own classrooms and that will enhance their understanding and appreciation for geometry.  It is understood that the students have had topics in basic Euclidean geometry in the pre-requisite courses, Math 107, 108 and 207.  Topics will include basic measurement, compass and straightedge constructions, tessellations, symmetries, finite geometry, non-euclidean geometry, and other topics. A major component of this class will be group explorations and projects. Each Wednesday, you will break into groups of 4-5 students and work on projects that will allow you to discover geometric properties and results, rather than learning them from lecture, or text or memorization.  Mondays will be a traditional lecture, followed by a quiz on this information before the group  projects on Wednesday.
TEXT: Symmetry, Shape, and Space by Kinsey and Moore.

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is mandatory.

• Projects and Homework - 25%
• Quizzes - 25%
• Midterm Exam - 25%
• Final Exam - 25%
STRUCTURE: The basic structure of the class is as follows:  Monday will be a lecture day. Homework will be assigned on Monday that will be due on Wednesday. Monday is also a day to go over quizzes and answer questions. Wednesdays will start with a 10 minute quiz.  The rest of the class time will be spent in small groups working on projects. Projects will be turned in the following Monday.  There will be no project or homework due the week of the midterm.

GROUP WORK:  Group work, also called cooperative learning, is an important and effective learning strategy.  You are encouraged to work together in class and out of class. {\em However}, when turning in projects or homework, you  must write up the work yourself.  If you turn in work that is not your own, you must have the author's name on it as well.  Not crediting the work correctly is a violation of the honor code.

MAKE-UP POLICY: In general, make ups for quizzes
will not be given.  If possible, students should inform the instructor before an exam is missed. A make up exam will only be given for approved excuses.  If you cannot notify the instructor before the exam period, you must contact  the instructor within 48 hours, or you forfeit your right to a make-up.

HONOR CODE: Copying work done by others, either in-class or out of class, is an act of scholastic dishonesty and will be prosecuted to the full extent allowed by University policy.  Giving assistance to others on quizzes or exams is also an act of scholastic dishonesty.

305 Fall 2004 tentative outline

Week 1    August 23: 1.1 Measurement
Homework: 1.1 #6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14
Project: 1.1 #1-4, 11,12, 13, 15, 16, Prove Pythagorean Theorem

Week 2    August 30: 1.2 Polygons
Homework: Worksheets
Project: Similar triangles and Inaccessible distances

Week 3    September 6: 3.1 Ruler and Compass Constructions
Homework: Worksheets
Project:

Week 4    September 13:  3.2 Pentagons and the Golden Ratio
Homework:
Project:

Week 5    September 20:  4.1 Regular and Semi-Regular Tessellations
Homework:
Project:

Week 6    September 27:  4.2, 4.3 Irregular Tessellations
Homework:
Project:

Week 7    October 4: Introduction to Symmetry and Exam review
Wednesday October 6:  MID-TERM EXAM Chapters 1,3,4.
No homework or project this week.

Week 8    October 11: Ch. 5 Symmetry
Homework:
Project: Kaleidescopes

Week 9    October 18: Finite Geometry: Hamming Codes
Homework:
Project:

Week 10  October 25: 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 Polyhedra
Homework:
Project: Platonic Solids - Polydrons"

Week 11  November 1: Ch. 9 Spirals and Fibbonacci  Numbers
Homework:
Project:

Week 12  November 8: Ch. 10 Perspective and Optical Illusions
Homework:
Project:

Week 13  November 15: Ch. 11 Non-Euclidean Geometry
Homework:
Project:

Week 14  November 15: Ch. 11 More Non-Euclidean Geometry
Nov. 24: Thanksgiving Break, No project

Week 15  Nov. 29: Open
Homework:
Project:

Monday, December 6, 1:30-3:30pm, FINAL EXAM