Math in a Basket
In another life, acclaimed North Carolina basketmaker Billie
Ruth Sudduth spent almost 20 years as a school psychologist. Her interest
in mathematics and her work with students who were gifted, learning disabled,
and educationally and emotionally handicapped inspired her to develop her
"Math in a Basket" program. Sudduth fully developed the program
in the early 1990s, in partnership with a middle school math teacher who
introduced this "North Carolina Living Treasure" to Fibonacci
and the "nature sequence."
Since that time, Sudduth writes in her how-to booklet "Math in a Basket,"
the program has been used in elementary, middle and high schools and in
universities. She reports that math scores of students involved in the program
have improved in at least two school districts. "It is my hope that
other school systems can use this program to teach math concepts through
basketry, to make math meaningful and fun, and to integrate art into the
basic curriculum."
The $12 booklet includes
goals and objectives for the program, a suggested schedule, the estimated
cost (about $5 per student), necessary supplies, and an overview of the
history of basketry and "Fibonacci's Nature Sequence and the Golden
Mean." The booklet includes step-by-step directions for creating a
Fibonacci-based basket (with photos). Ms. Sudduth's site displays
several of her award-winning baskets, including a selection based on the
nature sequence.
To find out more about Fibonacci, visit the Fascinating
Fibonnacis website. Yahoo offers a
selection of resources. Teachers will be interested in this
article on the topic from Mathematics Teacher.