A great way to integrate mathematics and culture: Learn about the history and culture of cornrow braiding, dating from perhaps 500 B.C. in the ancient Nok civilization of Nigeria. A tutorial shows how to make cornrow braids and how to position them. Math software expands the act of braiding into transformational geometry. Students will use translation, rotation, dilation, and reflection while making their own cornrow designs. Teachers will find useful classroom material for for grades 7-12, including math curricular connections, finding equations for cornrow spirals, and pre- and post-test questions.
courtesy of Knovation
