Being a special education teacher, I knew that this web search would be very educational.  The key words were familiar to me but I can definitely use a lot of refreshing.

My web search began with “Fibonacci”and “Phyllotaxis” and “Prime Numbers” .  www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/F/Fibonacci_sequence.html was very informative.  It was very engaging and easy to understand. 

Searching “Fractals” and “Nature” and “Patterns”, www.miqel.com/fractals/_math_patterns/visual-math-fractals.html had great pictures of fractals in nature.

www.contracosta.edu/math/Pentagrm.htm was the website that I found interesting because this concept was one that I knew very little about. 

Were there ideas or concepts you were not familiar with? What were they?   The term “phyllotaxis”  and it’s connection to nature – the arrangement of plant leaves was a new concept.  I also learned how connected math and nature are.  

What images did you find particularly striking?   The fractal picture of   the  broccoli/cauliflower and the Lichtenberg figure was striking.

Can you identify any manifestations of nonlinear patterns within your home or your workplace? What are they?   In my house I have a vase of artificial sunflowers, my bar stools have a swirl pattern and I have many shells that have a spiral center.

How can you adapt this webquest activity for your classroom?   I would break the class up into groups and give them websites to search.  I would then have each group compare the information that they all collected.  Each group would be responsible for sharing a concept.