MathWorld: The web's most extensive mathematics resource.
This is a free resource from Wolfram Research. Good to share with a high school student. Helpful with definitions and so much more.
Like many of his friends, 12-year-old Indian student SK Ramnandan used to find mathematics "rather mechanical and unattractive" and a bit of a chore.
This was before HeyMath happened to him.
HeyMath is an India-based online maths tutoring company which uses innovative, interactive lessons, peppered with animation, graphics and quizzes for students and teachers alike.
Stephen Barr writes:
There is a template that many books on science or science history follow when they touch upon the relations of science and religion: Bold Scientist Persecuted by the Church for Thinking New Thoughts. The Galileo case does to a large extent fit the template, but few if any other cases do.
Read more at First Things.
Just so it doesn't get lost in the shuffle, I'm bringing this up from the comment box...
This is from Dr. Thursday:
Has no one quoted GKC on this?
"I do not believe in dwelling upon the distances that are supposed to dwarf the world; I think there is even something a trifle vulgar about this idea of trying to rebuke spirit by size. And as the first idea is not feasible, that of making the earth a strange planet so as to make it significant, I will not stoop to the other trick of making it a small planet in order to make it insignificant. I would rather insist that we do not even know that it is a planet at all, in the sense in which we know that it is a place; and a very extraordinary place too. That is the note which I wish to strike from the first, if not in the astronomical, then in some more familiar fashion."
[GKC, The Everlasting Man CW2:155]
to read up on Pluto and learn about the history of our study of it. This article is a good place to start... World Book @ Nasa. Funny that its demotion might lead to some greater attention. I also came across Nine Years to the Ninth Planet, And Counting on the NASA site. FoxNews has some helpful pictures and charts (click on photos) to add to the equation.
From Living Math:
~ Insisting a child must be taught traditional, scope-and-sequence arithmetic to learn mathematics is like saying one must learn classical note and scales before one can learn music. You might get there, but you miss out on the inspiration of beautiful music created by the masters along the way.
We need not master all the "basics" before being able to experience the appreciation that carries us through the hard work of learning. Think of applying living math principles as developing a "mathematical ear" while working toward the mastery of basic theory. ~
Here's a free downloadable math unit study, from Simply Charlotte Mason. If you like it, you can purchase an extended version. Looks like fun - the kids learn math through the operation of a business, a pet store.
Confused by e-mails saying you should never put water bottles in the freezer? Johns Hopkins has a helpful piece on what's safe and what's not regarding plastics. Burning? Cooking? Storing water? Check it out!
Photo by NASA, from Apollo 17 flight, 1972
