You caught a beauty!!!

************

************

************

Download PDF of scaffold here.

In honour of International Pi Day (March 14th, belatedly) let’s scaffold the number Pi!!! Pi is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, but let’s go beyond the literal. Let’s delve into the essence of the equation and explore Pi as representative of what many consider numbers to be: the true international language that connects all of us. Let’s see how the celebration of Pi can connect us to astronomy*, *music, forestry**, technology*** and much more. As Pythagoras said, ‘number are the essence of all things.’ Let’s see what he meant. 

CLIL, SCAFFOLDING, STUDENT CENTRED LEARNING, DONNA LEE FIELDS, DAVID MARSH, ESL, EFL, PHENOMENON BASED LEARNING, CONTENT LANGUAGE INTEGRATED LEARNING

Regardless of the size of the circle, Pi is always the same number. So, for any circle, dividing its circumference by its diameter will give you the exact same number: 3.14159…or Pi.  Video Player

Pythagoras Said That Numbers Are The Essence Of All Things And That “All Animate Nature Are Kin.”

Kin: a group of people descended from a common ancestor orconstituting a people, clan, tribe, or family.

Step By Step: CLIL SCAFFOLDING INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Each group of students gets a copy of the image of the spiral (see below) and make a list of 10 observations that the image provokes. Provide academic language to help them begin: square, circular, end, spiral, forever, vertical, horizontal.
  2. Add the following: ‘Think about the image from the perspective of: connection and animate elements in the universe’ and then students continue their discussion about the image.’ Add the following academic language: inanimate, motion, forward, backward.
  3. Add the following: ‘Read the quote below and write down 10 connections to the image you’ve been considering.’ 
  4. Share your conclusions with the rest of the groups.

*The Pythagoreans, having discovered the mathematical laws of musical pitch, inferred that planetary motions produced a “music of spheres”. and developed a “therapy through music” to bring man in harmony with the celestial spheres.
**Forestry is the quantification of natural resources which is assigning numbers to things that occur naturally.
***The essence of modern life is increasing being viewed as code – digital relationships. Those digital relationships, once you unpack them, you realise that there’s no ‘us and them’ there’s only ‘we’.

See a similar lesson for  Primary students.

CLIL, SCAFFOLDING, STUDENT CENTRED LEARNING, DONNA LEE FIELDS, DAVID MARSH, ESL, EFL, PHENOMENON BASED LEARNING, CONTENT LANGUAGE INTEGRATED LEARNING

Image For Discussion

CLIL, SCAFFOLDING, STUDENT CENTRED LEARNING, DONNA LEE FIELDS, DAVID MARSH, ESL, EFL, PHENOMENON BASED LEARNING, CONTENT LANGUAGE INTEGRATED LEARNING

Example Of A Discussion Of The Image

PI Activities & Lessons

What is Pi?
Pi Week Lessons
Plan a Pi Day Party for March 14
7 Classroom Resources for Pi Day
Video: 3 Blue 2 brown History of Pi

CLIL SCAFFOLDING INSTRUCTIONS, SCAFFOLDING, STUDENT CENTRED LEARNING, DONNA LEE FIELDS, DAVID MARSH, ESL, EFL, PHENOMENON BASED LEARNING, CONTENT LANGUAGE INTEGRATED LEARNING

Musical Interpretation Of Pi

Scaffoldingmagic.com is your entryway into DYNAMIC bilingual learning methodologies, such as Phenomenon-Based Learning, CLIL, EMI, and ESL. You’ll find ways to implement critical thinking tools (DOK) to promote higher level thinking, the growth mindset, instill an ethic of excellence, deep reflection on learning, and all through multi-cultural, interdisciplinary activities. We have the keys to turning competences into action and to creating collective efficacy in your school so you move ahead as a unified, enthusiastic team.