What Does "Pi" Have to Do With Dinosaur Eggs?

Fourth grade students at Forest Elementary in Williamsville used a constructivist activity to discover the relationship between circumference and diameter, or “Pi.” Let’s take a peek at this real-life application of math.

It began with sharing some images of my paleo dig in Bozeman, Montana at Egg Mountain. While I was in the field, I wondered how paleontologists created museum displays of Maiasaur and her nest of young, when they only dug up pieces of eggshell? The activity that the students participated in not only helped them see how this might be done, but they learned about mathematical relationships as well.

First the students made observations of a piece of dinosaur eggshell, and used the curvature of the fossil to create a two-dimensional model. They measured the diameter, or distance across and found it to be 18 centimeters.

Then groups of students were given a bag of objects, and recorded each item’s diameter and circumference on a table. After making observations of the recorded data, one of the students noticed that the circumference was approximately three times larger than the diameter. This was applied to our diameter of 18 centimeters on the two-dimensional model and the class came up with 54 centimeters for the circumference of the 3-D dinosaur egg. The final act was to blow up a balloon that would represent the egg.


The students came up with basic formulas going in both directions: C = 3D and D = C÷3 and really seemed to internalize the relationships! In fact, they were able to apply what they learned by filling in another table with missing diameters and circumference.

The workshop concluded with students going back to the original table of four objects and they divided each circumference by its diameter on calculators. Again, observations of the resulting quotients were discussed---all approximating “Pi”, or 3.14. The students remarked that they didn’t know they were doing math, and it all began with a piece of dinosaur eggshell!

If you are a fourth or fifth grade teacher, visit the Author Visits part of my web site for this offering and more! You will also find a brochure on that page offered as a PDF if you would like to share my programs with your librarian, PTA or administrator.

by Norma L. Gentner on June 24th, 2008

Earth Day at Ledgeview Elementary

I visited Ledgeview Elementary in Clarence, New York during their Earth Day celebration on April 25th. Kindergarten through second grade classes rotated through the library for a 45-minute workshop focusing on my songbook, What Hatches from an Egg? The session began with a firsthand account, or story titled, If You Care, You’ll Leave Them There. Spring and early summer marks the arrival of new wildlife, and “spring babies” are quite abundant. Although it may be hard to resist the temptation to take them out of the wild, it is a temptation best avoided. As a previous Wildlife Rehabilitator, I helped guide students towards the more appropriate choices.

This was followed by a sing-along with my songbook, What Hatches from an Egg? The students were excited to share their predictions using picture and textual clues, making this title very age appropriate.

 

I brought along an authentic ostrich and emu egg which I had students hypothesize what might hatch from these eggs. A brief discussion of the ostrich and emu invited the audience to compare and contrast these two unique birds.

The workshop culminated with a hands-on activity requiring children in the audience to use their sense of touch. They were presented with images of six living things that hatched from eggs. The student in the photograph reached into a cloth-like sack, described what she felt, and then predicted the plastic dragonfly in her hand. It was amazing how long the students at this school remained focused and engaged, reflecting a day of true learning!

by Norma L. Gentner on May 17th, 2008

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PAST EVENTS

by Norma L. Gentner on March 30th, 2008

My Visit to the Amherst Cooperative Nursery School

I had the pleasure of visiting the Amherst Cooperative Nursery School recently. The four-year-old group was in the midst of their dinosaur unit, and thought I would share my one-hour author visit.

It began with introducing them to my songbook, Dig A Dinosaur. As we sang the first page together, I shared a little bit about my dinosaur dig in Bozeman, Montana. The dig site was located in the Badlands, so I had to stay in one of the Blackfoot tepees to the left of my hat in the photo. Daytime temperatures averaged about 100˚, so I had to wear a hat to help protect me from dehydration.

A common activity I use with Pre-K through first grade is dramatizing the song. I have found that interactive text helps support emergent readers and ESL students. The children learned that digging for dinosaur bones takes a lot of time and patience. Sometimes the paleontologist will use a rock hammer and chisel, but most of the time a dental pick, brush and epoxy are most helpful. (The little actress in the photo is using a toy hammer and chisel to tap out the beat of the song.)

For the pages that deal with the nest of eggs, I have found that a puppet works well. The actress used the action word, hatch as her cue. Have you ever thought of using a songbook like this when you’re students are learning about “eggs and spring time babies? Most paleontologists believe that dinosaurs were oviparous beings. So, now you know that chickens aren’t the only ones.

The next part of the song deals with most children’s favorite dinosaur, T-Rex. The student with the plastic megaphone roared when it got to his key word in the text.

A “magic” game of reaching into a bag and differentiating between a fossilized horse tooth (plant eater) and a tooth cast from T-Rex (meat eater) helped reinforce vocabulary such as: triangle, sharp and pointed.

The next performer in the Dig A Dinosaur show included the actor with the full sized T-Rex puppet. He bit a smaller stuffed dinosaur three times to the beat of meat-meat-meat. The final two performers acted out the eating of plants, and the meteor hitting the earth by clashing small cymbals. It was definitely a Dino-mite visit!

by Norma L. Gentner on February 3rd, 2008

Welcome to the official web site for author and songwriter, Norma L. Gentner.

If you select from the menu bar above you will discover more about me and my Songs of Science.

 News  This page will be updated frequently with images from recent school visits and conference presentations. My next author visit will be Monday, January 28th at the Amherst Cooperative Nursery School in Amherst, New York. The kids at this school really dig dinosaurs! They will be exploring the topic through my song and a variety of hands-on experiences. I will be adding images of the children in action with tips on how you can integrate curriculum using Dig A Dinosaur in your classroom. So be sure to check back!

by Norma L. Gentner on January 27th, 2008

More dates coming soon!

Forest Elementary, Williamsville, NY. Author Visit with 4th Gr. (focus: Workshops on new songbook- Endangered)

Abram Lansing Elementary, Albany, NY. “Showcasing…Arts & Enrichment 2011”, Exhibit for Elementary Schools serviced by Capital Region BOCES, and Workshop for 2nd graders- Becoming Lyricists with Bear Facts.

Edison Elementary, Tonawanda, NY. “Family Literacy Night” (focus: “What Hatches From an Egg?” Workshop)

Buffalo Museum of Science, Buffalo, NY. “Curious Kids Day”, Workshop for K-2nd graders- Winter’s Gift. Read more about this first time event on the left side of the page!

Oswego Reading Council, Fulton, NY. Presentation on The Power of Songbooks of Science and the effect they have on building fluency while integrating science, reading and writing using six of my original titles.

Country Parkway Elementary, Williamsville, NY. Author Visit with 4th Gr. (focus: Large Group Presentation- How Were These Songbooks Created?, Workshops on new songbook- Endangered)

Ethel K. Fyle Elementary, Rochester, NY. Author Visit with 1st Gr. (focus: “What Hatches From an Egg?” Workshop)

West Elementary, West Seneca, NY. All-Day Author Visit K-2 (focus: “What Hatches From an Egg?” Workshop, Becoming Lyricists with Bear Facts Workshop)

Edison Elementary, Tonawanda, NY. “Family Literacy Night” (focus: “Dig A Dinosaur” Workshop)

ESD Reading Team, Bremerton, WA, Presentation to Literacy Specialists (focus: The Power of Song using Bear Facts and Changes)