Pre-Activity #1: Proportions of the Body
Pre-Activities: #1 | #2 | #3

Materials:

strips of poster board, 1 per student, 10-12”, by about 1 “ wide

1 ruler or straight edge per group

1 piece of making tape per group (to be reused for each student)

access to a chalkboard or large paper to graph results

Activity: First demonstrate this activity, then ask students to work on their own.

1. Organize students into groups of 3 or 4
2. Ask a student to stand up straight against a wall. Hold the ruler or straight edge on the top of his or her head and back towards the wall. Use a small piece of tape to mark that spot. Move the ruler to line up with the student’s chin. Mark that place on the wall. Using the tape marks on the wall as a guide, fold or cut a strip of poster board the length of a student’s head from the chin to the top of the head.
3. Estimate the height of the students in "heads".
4. Using the strip of poster board that is the length of the student’s head, measure the height of the students in "heads". (Measure to the _ or _ or _ head.)
5. Create a number line on the board or on a large piece of paper. Mark findings “head” heights on this number line. (They should range between 6 and 9, depending on the accuracy of the measurement and the age of the students.)
   

Findings: Most adult bodies measure about 7 to 7 _ heads tall. This was Leonardo da Vinci’s ideal. The ancient Greeks and the Romans based their ideal on 8 heads. Children have a different ratio. Discuss the findings. Be aware of students who may be sensitive about their body image. This can be an opportunity to discuss how different cultures set standards of beauty.

Internet Research: Use your favorite search engine or metasearch engine to get more information about Leonardo da Vinci’s ideal proportion. Search the words: “Leonardo da Vinci” , proportion, Golden Ratio.

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