Wheels of Power: The Big Horn Medicine Wheel Author: Dr. Charles P. Funkhouser NSF Funded Project Award # DUE

Big Horn Medicine Wheel

Goals of the lesson 1.Describe the geometry of Medicine Wheels. 2.Appreciate alternative methods of geometric representation used by Native American cultures. 3.Design plans for Medicine Wheels based on Native American geometry and culture. 4.Suggest the relationship between real-world objects and geometry. 5.Investigate the foundations of other cultures’ geometries. 6.Describe the similarities and differences between and among Native American and other geometries (e.g., Euclidean, Egyptian).

Session-related Stories ”The story is as important as the content.” Stories are oral or written ways of relating a particular idea or concept to the real world or everyday life—to a broader context than just the abstract content.

Participant Materials & Equipment Diagram, “Big Horn Medicine Wheel” from USFS Drawing paper and pencils (Digital) camera or videocam/VCR “Geometer’s Sketchpad” and “Power Point” on PC or Mac

Session Overview Teacher exposition on the geometry of circles Investigation of Medicine Wheels and related Native American culture History and geometry of Big Horn Medicine Wheel presented Students practice diagramming and constructing medicine wheels, then discuss related mathematical content Problems assigned both from a textbook and a Worksheet

… and finally. 1. Investigate other such geometric structures (e.g., Stonehenge, Brú na Bóinne) 2. Do library or interview research on Native American culture as related to the geometry of circles in general. 3. Prepare a set of camera or “Power Point” images of medicine wheels and their application to a real-world (tribal) setting; record on some medium.

Wrap-Up Further discussion of the geometry of circles and American Indian culture