Teaching Science in Europe II Interdisciplinary approach

1
Teaching Science in Europe IIInterdisciplinary
approach
Mathematics
Language
Art
?
Assignment
Music
Science
History
Economics
?
?
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Assignment building a pyramid
Mathematics
Economics
History Art
Language
Music
Hydrostatics
Mechanics
Astronomy
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Teaching Science in Europe IIInterdisciplinary
approach
EXAMPLE PYRAMID  ASSIGNMENT Plan a pyramid and
build a model!  CONTEXT The pharaoh (teacher)
commissions the wise people of Egypt (pupils) to
build a pyramid. Among those people, there are
architects, engineers, mathematicians, artists,
scribes They have to consider all the aspects
of the construction of a pyramid and try to find
solutions to the problems they are faced with.
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Teaching Science in Europe IIInterdisciplinary
approach
SUB-ASSIGNMENTS Group 1 Determine the volume
of the pyramid and calculate the number of stones
to be used! Group 2 Find out how you can lift
the heavy stones to build the pyramid. Group
3 Organize the transport of the stones from the
quarry to the building site. Group 4 Organize
the work of the workers and their salary (hours,
number of stones transported, age ). Group
5 Decorate the inside of the pyramid and write
my life story on the walls. Group 6 Build an
opening in the pyramid, that allows the sun to
illuminate my tomb the anniversary of my
birthday.   The different groups will have to
coordinate their work for the preparation, the
timing, the organization of the construction
site, the infrastructure
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Teaching Science in Europe IIInterdisciplinary
approach
Conditions Ø       Frame (optional) inside
the school hours. Ø       Teachers involved
Physics, mathematics, art, language, economics,
eventally music teacher. Ø       Age of the
pupils 14-16 years. Ø       Duration
(optional) 30 lessons Ø       Materials
different materials, balance, water, dynamometer
. Ø       Expected effects This
interdisciplinary project will give the pupils a
global view about a practical problem. This
approach should stimulate and increase different
competences of the pupils because it requires
different kinds of intelligences. The acquired
competences should be applicable in other
situations.
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Teaching Science in Europe IIInterdisciplinary
approach

• Evaluation method (optional)
• Test
• The pharaoh may ask some questions to the
  builders of the pyramid
• Wouldnt it have been cheaper to transport the
  stones from the quarry to the building place on
  tree trunks?
• Why doesnt the boat sink when you put very heavy
  stones inside?
• How many stones can put in a boat before it
  sinks?
• You have used the inclined plane to lift the
  stones, arguing that the longer the way, the
  smaller the force. Why didnt you use longer
  ramps to decrease the force?
• How will you inform the future generations about
  my reign and what will you say?
• What are the criteria to pay the workers? The
  working time, the length of the way, the
  difference in altitude, the weight of the stones,
  the consistence of the subsoil (Untergrund) ?
• ...
•  
•  
• Cooperation of the pupils 20
• Project 30
• Test 20
• Presentation 15
• Self-evaluation 15
• By self evaluation, I mean that the pupils get a
  certain number of points which they share inside
  the group.