Les 8 • Samen en alleen

• Bouwtechniek
• Wiskunde
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Les 8 • Samen en alleen

Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson you will be able to understand the historical and mathematical significance of the Pyramid of Cheops, including its construction and dimensions. At the end of the lesson you will be able to calculate the approximate weight of the Pyramid of Cheops based on the weight of individual blocks and the total number of blocks. At the end of the lesson you will be able to determine the average number of stone blocks processed per year during the construction of the Pyramid of Cheops. At the end of the lesson you will be able to calculate the base area of the Pyramid of Cheops in square meters and hectares. At the end of the lesson you will be able to understand the concept of different calendars and calculate the current year according to the Chinese calendar and other countries' calendars. At the end of the lesson you will be able to convert measurements into Chinese units of length and weight and understand the historical context of the Chinese Wall construction, including the cost in human lives.

What do you already know about the Pyramid of Cheops and the Chinese calendar?

The construction and mathematical significance of the Pyramid of Cheops

Pyramid of Cheops: Built for the Pharaoh Cheops about 4500 years ago, consisting of 2.4 million stone blocks.

Calculating the weight of the Pyramid of Cheops

Pyramid's total weight is approximately 6 million tons. Each stone block weighs an average of 2.5 tons.

Yearly average of stone blocks processed during the Pyramid's construction

Workers processed about 100,000 blocks per year over 25 years.

Calculating the base area of the Pyramid of Cheops

The base area of the pyramid is 529 square meters or 5.29 hectares.

Understanding different calendars and calculating the current year

The Chinese calendar starts in 2697 BC, making the current year 4712 in their system. Different countries have different starting points for their calendars.

Converting measurements into Chinese units

Chinese units of measurement include shaku and kati, which can be used to convert lengths and weights from the metric system.

Understanding the historical context of the Chinese Wall construction

The Chinese Wall, known as the Wan Li Chang Cheng, is approximately 5000 km long, and the construction cost 20 lives per kilometer.

Definition List

Pyramid of Cheops: A pyramid built for the Pharaoh Cheops approximately 4500 years ago, consisting of 2.4 million stone blocks. Chinese Calendar: A historical calendar system that begins in 2697 BC, marking the crowning of their first king. Wan Li Chang Cheng: The Chinese name for the Great Wall of China, which translates to the Wall of 10,000 Li (approximately 5000 km). Shaku: An old Chinese unit of length, where 1 shaku is equal to approximately 35 cm. Kati: An old Chinese unit of weight, where 1 kati is equal to approximately 600 g.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.