Group+1+S10

A WebQuest for 9th Grade Math/Science Designed by
 * Six Degrees of Separation:** **Making Connections Between Math and Science**

Chess Owen Annie Nguyen Erik Marlin



 **Introduction** (//Section 1 of the Quest//) Hello fellow mathematicians and scientists! As you may know, many concepts learned in your classes cross over into multiple subjects. Geometry, algebra, and trigonometry as well as biology, chemistry, and physics are related in multiple ways. Though they may seem like distinct, detached entities on the surface, you will discover through this quest that unrelated ideas are more connected then we think.

 **The Task** (//Section 2 of the Quest//)

In Wikipedia, you will need to navigate yourself from one point to another within a certain number of clicks. For this particular WebQuest, your task will be to go from the Wikipedia article on the Quadratic Function and end your journey at the Wikipedia article on the Scientific Method within 6 link-clicks or less. While navigating through each page, it is important to critically think of how you might make connections from one page to another.

 **The Process** (//Section 3 of the Quest//)
 * 1) Brainstorm how you believe the quadratic function and the scientific method are related.
 * 2) Start on the page [|Quadratic Function] in Wikipedia.
 * 3) Read the page and find a link that you believe will get you closer to the Scientific Method. Click on this link to navigate to another page.
 * 4) Repeat Sept 3 for each page until you reach the page [|Scientific Method].
 * 5) Try to make the journey in six links, the closer you get to 6, the more points you get! If you did not make it in six this time, go back and try different links.
 * 6) Explain in 1-3 sentences how each page (starting with Quadratic Function) and the next page are connected (ending with Scientific Method), as well as why you believe that link will get you closer.
 * 7) If you manage to link the two topics in six links or less, extra credit will be awarded.

Note: Wikipedia may not have a page for a link that you are thinking of to connect to another page. You may use the link you are thinking of to connect one to the next, but you __must__ explain how the links work together, or your links following it will not count.

Bellow is an example:

Connect Pie to Pi:


 * 1) Pie
 * 2) Round – Pies are round (there is no page for round)
 * 3) Circle – Circles are round
 * 4) Circumference – The distance around the edge of a circle.
 * 5) Pi – The ratio between the circumference and the diameter of a circle

 **Evaluation** (//Section 4 of the Quest//)

Individually, you will be evaluated on your explanation of why you navigated to a particular page on your step-by-step journey. If you are able to reach the destination page in less than 6 steps, then you will be awarded extra credit for each fewer step involved. As this is an individual assignment, please do not reveal steps to your classmates. This should be an activity that expresses how creatively you can go from one point to another.

[|Rubric]

 **Conclusion** (//Section 5 of the Quest//) During many of our classes in school, we get the impression that none of our classes really interact with each other. Sometimes we even think topics in a particular class are not even related. After completing this activity, you should now realize that this is not the case. Everything in the world is connected, especially the realms of math and science. It is important to be proficient in making connections because this skill will be very useful in the real world. Can you make connections between math and other areas of knowledge such as history or medicine?

 **Credits & References** (//Section 6 of the Quest//) "Puzzle Guys" Retrieved from " http://www.crcsig.com/images/puzzleguys298.gif" on June 25, 2011.

Wikipedia http://www.wikipedia.org/

Idea inspired by "Six Degrees of Separation" [] "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon" [] "Erdos Number" [|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdős_number]