Circle Time

One thing I love about homeschooling is how you can study subjects in a 'unit' fashion.  This past week it centered on circles.

First came a math lesson from the Mathematicians book we are using on a monthly basis:

We read the selection on Archimedes.  I knew all about the displacement theory, but did you know he was responsible for so much more?   Like Pi??  You should read it!  We completed a notebooking page on Archimedes and his contributions to mathematics.

Then we used Hardhatting in a Geo World for some hands on lessons on circles, radii and diameter:

We made 'compasses' with paper clips and made some really cool patterns with circles, as well as discussing the relationship between the radius and the diameter and the circumference of circles.

Then we studied Vincent Van Gogh and his 'Starry Night' painting...and his use of circular patterns in his painting.  We made our own versions of the painting using this technique. 

As you know, Van Gogh was Dutch...which also fit perfectly into our history study about the Dutch in the New World and New Amsterdam. 

Then we studied bones and joints which had nothing to do with any of this.

Do you do Unit Studies as well?  What techniques do you use to keep the learnin' fun and interesting and relative at your house?