Our school, Lamplighter, has started up a couple soccer teams to play in the local under-8 and under-6 leagues this year. I’m now one of the under-6 coaches, and the curious similarities between them and the middle schoolers is going to have to be the topic of another post; Montessori observed some interesting parallels between the first and third planes of development that are worth getting into. However, since the teams are new, we did not have lines on the practice field. And teaching throw-ins is kinda tricky with imaginary lines.
One of the parents/coaches of the under-8 team, Mr. Surbrook, offered draw out the lines. He also volunteered to give a lesson on geometry and let the middle school (and upper elementary) students help.
To prepare the middle schoolers I did a quick review of Pythagoras’ Theorem using the 3×3, 4×4 and 5×5 squares (see above).
The lesson was interesting because the 7th graders had had a more recent exposure to the equation but, unlike the 8th graders, have not had any algebra yet, so there were some puzzled looks when I rearranged the equation.
That was in the morning. After lunch Mr. Surbrook came in and showed us how to use Pythagoras’ Theorem to make right angles and locate the center of the field. If stretch out six pieces of string, four for the sides and two for the diagonals (calculated with the equation,) at their fullest extent you have a rectangle with decent right angles.
After figuring out the theory inside, we went out to the field and help cut the string and lay out the lines. The kids were a bit disappointed they did not get to actually paint the lines, but we’d run out of time for the day.
Fortunately, they’ll get another chance at surveying when Dr. Houghton brings her class out to map the topography of the campus.
I very much liked how the whole procedure went, with my preparatory lesson first, then Mr. Surbrook practical lesson, and finally the actual practical application. We did something similar when we laid out the greenhouse the first time. That time we threw the kids in without a guide and without the practical lesson. It was a bit of a team-building exercise. It also took quite a bit longer.
