Dalla classificazione degli alberi allo studio delle ombre prodotte dal Sole

Abstract

This article describes a mathematics and science pathway for first-grade secondary school, included in a large interdisciplinary project developed through the didactic laboratory and cooperative learning integrated into digital teaching in BYOD mode. Using the simplified dichotomous key created “ad hoc” by the teacher, the pupils classified the tree species present in the city park near the school. The activity continued in class with the network search of information about the meaning of “classification” and the botanical characteristics of plant species, the processing of billboards, and the production of videos later published on the YouTube channel of the school. With the experimental study of shadows produced by the Sun, pupils have linked the parallelism of shadows with the parallelism of solar rays and have created the mathematical model of the natural phenomenon useful to understand the concept of relationship and proportions. The mathematical model has been “tested” and / or validated through a simulation using a dynamic geometry software. Finally, the strengths and limits of the classroom teaching pathway, references to national legislation and references to studies and publications in the field of mathematics and science teaching (in particular on activities concerning the study of shadows produced by the Sun) are highlighted.