Category Archives: Math Mini Sparks

#3: Eiffel Tower Math

Math Mini Sparks

The Eiffel Tower is named after a man named Gustave Eiffel, but he didn’t actually create it. Instead, two of his top engineers, Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, designed the tower. The names of 72 different artists, engineers, and mathematicians who helped with the design are carved into the tower so that everyone can remember them!

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #3: Eiffel Tower Math

2. Read this article about the Eiffel Tower. Record 3 math details about this structure on your recording page.

3. Watch the Geometry of the Eiffel Tower.  Record 3 details from the video on your recording sheet.

4. Answer one of these these questions on your recording page.  Reminder for your teacher that answer key can be found in the math mini spark folder.

  • Describe the significance of the Eiffel Tower’s height and how it compares to football fields.
  •  Who was Gustave Eiffel, and what was his profession before designing the Eiffel Tower?
  • Explain what a truss is and how it functions in supporting structures like bridges.
  •  What are the two types of forces mentioned that act on the truss, and how do they differ?
  • What is meant by “static equilibrium,” and why is it important for the stability of a well-designed bridge?

5. Global Math Stories combine math, history, and cultural stories. Check out the information about the Eiffel Tower. Answer 2 of these questions on your math recording page.  Reminder for your teacher that answer key can be found in the math mini spark folder.

  1. The tower has 1,665 steps in total. If you were allowed to climb all the way from the bottom to the top, how long do you think it would take you? Explain your reasoning.
  2. Every repainting of the tower requires 50-60 tons of paint. Find the mean and median of the amount of paint that has been used during these applications: 52, 60, 58, 54, 59, 52, 60, 51, and 55 tons.
  3. Imagine the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower are standing side by side with the sun shining on them. The Statue of Liberty is 93 meters tall, and its shadow is 10.7 meters long. If the Eiffel Tower is 330 meters tall, how long will its shadow be?

6. Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.

You can use step 5 as the first story for the Global Math Stories Badge that can be found on the EY badge page.

#2: Graph the Story

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Data visualization is a general term that describes any effort to help people understand the significance of data by placing it in a visual context.

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #2: Graph the Story

2. Watch this introduction video.  On your recording page draw a sketch of the graph from the video. Add in these 4 labels on the 4 lines she drew-steep slope, slope, horizontal line, negative slope. 

3. Download and print this sheet. If you would prefer to do the graph digitally you can use this resource.

4.  Start this video and then pause it to get your graph set up to look like the graph in the video.

5. Restart the video and decide where you will need to plot the points.

6. Pause the video and complete the graph.

7. When you have completed the graph, resume the video to see how you did. If you need to make adjustments to your graph do so. If you are doing the activity online, add a picture of your graph to your recording sheet.

8.  Choose 3 more videos to watch, graph, and check. You can make them on paper or use the digital graph maker.

Video choices 

Height of waist off ground 1-The task is to graph the height of the person’s waist off the ground against time.

Air Pressure– The challenge is to graph air pressure against time.

Elevation-The task is to draw a graph of their elevation against time. The graph contains increasing, decreasing, and constant sections.

Distance from home plate-The task is to draw a graph of the player’s distance from the home plate against time. The graph shows linear piecewise sections.

Weight of cups-The task is to graph the weight on the scales against time.

9.  Share your math mini spark recording page and your graphs with your teacher/EY coordinator.

#1: Zenzizenzizenzic

Math Mini Sparks, Uncategorized

Wow…that’s a mouthful!  I wonder how many points that would be worth in Scrabble?  Explore the meaning of this bizarre sounding word by completing some Math Minutes this week!

Spark your math thinking!

1. Set up your math mini spark recording page: #1: Zenzizenzizenzic

2. Listen to how to pronounce the word Zenzizenzizenzic 5 times. Say it 5 times to practice. Can you say it FAST 5 times?

3. Find out the meaning of zenzizenzizenzic by reading this article.

4. Make a tiny Z math dictionary page.  Your page should have the word and definition for at least ten Z math words. Here are some other ideas of Z math words. You can use these or find your own.

Z-Intercept     Zenith     Zero Divisors    Zero Element    Zero slope  Zodiac  Zone

5. Find out how many points zenzizenzizensic would be worth in Scrabble using this online scrabble calculator. Record the points on your recording sheet.

6.  Share your math mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.