ST. PATRICK’S DAY ADVENTURE
by Denise Noll

SUBJECT:
Pre-Algebra & Geometry

TOPIC:
Circumference, Measurement, & Advanced Calculations

Denise Noll		 To obtain a downloadable copy of the worksheet that accompanies this bulletin board, click on the button below.

TITLE: St. Patrick's Day Adventure

SUBJECT: Pre-Algebra and Geometry.

TOPIC: Circumference, measurement, advanced calculations

INTERACTIVITY: Participants will measure the radius of the circumference of the rainbow (semicircle). They will also have to move the leprechaun around the rainbow throughout the activity.

DIRECTIONS: (on board)

Lucky the Leprechaun is going on a St. Patrick's Day adventure! It is your job to find out how long it takes Lucky to get to the pot of gold on the other side of the rainbow!

  1. Measure the diameter of the rainbow. (Measure from the outer most band of the rainbow. Also, 1 inch is equivalent to 1 mile.)
  2. Move Lucky to the top of the rainbow.
  3. Using the information provided on the handout, find the distance from Lucky's starting point to the top of the rainbow.
  4. Calculate the amount of time it takes for Lucky to get from his starting point to the top of the rainbow.
  5. Again, using the information provided on the handout, find the distance from the top of the rainbow to the pot of gold.
  6. Calculate the amount of time it takes for Lucky to get from the top of the rainbow to the pot of gold.
  7. Add the two times together to get the total amount of time for Lucky to get to the pot of gold.

TIME: It will only take a few minutes for students to complete the bulletin board. It is just a visual for students, and provides a measurable object. They just have to measure the radius, and move the leprechaun around the rainbow. The rest of the activity can be completed at a seat or at home.

SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION: Construction of the rainbow was very time consuming because each band is a perfect semicircle, and each is a half inch distance from the next. I used a giant, homemade compass made from two steel bars, one with a point and the other with a duct taped pencil attached. For a 3-D effect the rainbow was constructed on a piecec of foam board which was also pre-measured as a perfect semicircle. The border is shiny gold ribbon.

CREDIT: Extra credit, St. Patrick's Day related prize

Denise Noll
Spring 2007