Flatland Project
Overview
Students will read the novella Flatland and watch its two film adaptations, Flatland: The Movie and Flatland: The Film, to investigate the character of and relationships between dimensions, shapes, angles, and perspectives. Students will write a short reading response to the novella and write a comic strip that tells the story of Flatland.
Essential Questions
Products
1. Reading response/reflection paper on Flatland: Write a response to the novella which includes your personal reflection and reactions to the book and an academic discussion of your choice. This paper is NOT to be a summary of the novella. You should assume that the reader (Aliza) has already read the book; you are writing about your thoughts, ideas, and opinions that sprouted out of your understanding of and grappling with the text. You may respond to one of the following questions or choose your own:
- How does Flatland help you think differently about geometry?
- What theme(s) do you see emerging in Flatland? What is the significance or ramifications of those themes?
- Explain how this book provides an analogy argument for the existence of possible further dimensions other than the ones in the 3D world we live in right now. How does Abbott make it believable that more dimensions might exist, even though we can’t see them?
- What were some ideas that got people in Flatland in trouble, and what did A. Square believe was getting him in trouble? Are there any events in history where this may have happened to real people?
- What are some ideas in the book that relate to ideas you’ve learned in any of your classes? Cite specific examples and explain how the ideas relate.
Paper Requirements
- 2-4 pages. The 2-page minimum means that the second page of writing must be full!
- Typed, double spaced, 12 pt Times New Roman font, 1 inch margins
- Must include an introduction, body paragraph(s), and conclusion
Challenge Option
- Compare the novella to either or both of the Flatland movies that we watched in class. Describe the quality of the portrayal of the physical aspects of Flatland and the movies’ treatment of the social, political, and intellectual issues addressed in the novella.
2. Flatland comic strip: Create a comic strip that tells the story of Flatland. Focus on the aspects of the novella that are of interest to YOU!
Challenge Option: Write a comic strip that tells the sequel of Flatland or of a parallel storyline that happens in Flatland. Your comic must include at least one of the following elements:
- Describes an interaction between shapes of different spatial dimensions (line vs. triangle, square vs. cube, etc.)
- Addresses one of the social, political, or intellectual issues presented in the novella
Learning Goals
It is my hope that this project will help you think about mathematics as more than just problem sets, multiplication tables, and solving for x. I want to know how reading a book about a math-based world influences your understanding and appreciation for math. How does Flatland affect your perspectives on math, science, history, religion, and society? Though we used this book as an introduction to basic geometry concepts—points, lines, angles, and planes—there are some very rich and deep concepts that I hope will strengthen your drive to learn about and understand new and different things. Your learning goals for this project are to know the plot of Flatland, develop an understanding of the themes that Abbott presents in the novella, and translate your understanding in a manner that is personally relevant to you.
Timeline and Due Dates
This project will take one week. It will be launched on Tuesday, 10/2 (after you have finished reading the Flatland novella) and conclude on Thursday, 10/11.
Assessment
Students will read the novella Flatland and watch its two film adaptations, Flatland: The Movie and Flatland: The Film, to investigate the character of and relationships between dimensions, shapes, angles, and perspectives. Students will write a short reading response to the novella and write a comic strip that tells the story of Flatland.
Essential Questions
- How does Flatland help you think differently about math, learning, society, history, science, and the world around you?
- What is the relationship between points, lines, shapes, angles, and spatial dimensions, and how do these things interact with one another?
- How does Edwin Abbott use the concept of perspective to tell the story of Flatland? What is perspective, and how is it relevant to us?
Products
1. Reading response/reflection paper on Flatland: Write a response to the novella which includes your personal reflection and reactions to the book and an academic discussion of your choice. This paper is NOT to be a summary of the novella. You should assume that the reader (Aliza) has already read the book; you are writing about your thoughts, ideas, and opinions that sprouted out of your understanding of and grappling with the text. You may respond to one of the following questions or choose your own:
- How does Flatland help you think differently about geometry?
- What theme(s) do you see emerging in Flatland? What is the significance or ramifications of those themes?
- Explain how this book provides an analogy argument for the existence of possible further dimensions other than the ones in the 3D world we live in right now. How does Abbott make it believable that more dimensions might exist, even though we can’t see them?
- What were some ideas that got people in Flatland in trouble, and what did A. Square believe was getting him in trouble? Are there any events in history where this may have happened to real people?
- What are some ideas in the book that relate to ideas you’ve learned in any of your classes? Cite specific examples and explain how the ideas relate.
Paper Requirements
- 2-4 pages. The 2-page minimum means that the second page of writing must be full!
- Typed, double spaced, 12 pt Times New Roman font, 1 inch margins
- Must include an introduction, body paragraph(s), and conclusion
Challenge Option
- Compare the novella to either or both of the Flatland movies that we watched in class. Describe the quality of the portrayal of the physical aspects of Flatland and the movies’ treatment of the social, political, and intellectual issues addressed in the novella.
2. Flatland comic strip: Create a comic strip that tells the story of Flatland. Focus on the aspects of the novella that are of interest to YOU!
Challenge Option: Write a comic strip that tells the sequel of Flatland or of a parallel storyline that happens in Flatland. Your comic must include at least one of the following elements:
- Describes an interaction between shapes of different spatial dimensions (line vs. triangle, square vs. cube, etc.)
- Addresses one of the social, political, or intellectual issues presented in the novella
Learning Goals
It is my hope that this project will help you think about mathematics as more than just problem sets, multiplication tables, and solving for x. I want to know how reading a book about a math-based world influences your understanding and appreciation for math. How does Flatland affect your perspectives on math, science, history, religion, and society? Though we used this book as an introduction to basic geometry concepts—points, lines, angles, and planes—there are some very rich and deep concepts that I hope will strengthen your drive to learn about and understand new and different things. Your learning goals for this project are to know the plot of Flatland, develop an understanding of the themes that Abbott presents in the novella, and translate your understanding in a manner that is personally relevant to you.
Timeline and Due Dates
This project will take one week. It will be launched on Tuesday, 10/2 (after you have finished reading the Flatland novella) and conclude on Thursday, 10/11.
- Tuesday 10/2 – Watch Flatland: The Movie. Small group discussion on Flatland.
- Thursday 10/4 – Watch Flatland: The Film.
- Monday 10/8 – First draft of Flatland paper due.
- Tuesday 10/9 – Socratic seminar on Flatland novella and films.
- Tuesday 10/10 – First draft of comic strip due. Small group workshops on drafts of essay and comic strip.
- Thursday 10/11 – Two hours of project work time. Your final paper and comic strip will be due at the end of 2nd(TG) or 5th period (Fua).
Assessment
- Your paper will be graded on your ability to express the big ideas that you took out of the Flatland text and make connections to other ideas in math, history, and the world around you.
- Your comic strip will be graded on your understanding of the plot and themes of the text and visual representation and conveyance of the concept of dimensions.
- Presentation of information: Information is accurate and has depth and focus
- Integration of historical and/or social context: The comic places the story within a historical or social context rather than merely summarizing the plot of the novella.
- Effective presentation and technical merit: The comic is relevant and appropriate to the subject. The story is well structured with a story arc or central theme that is explicitly developed.
- Overall artistry and quality: Artistic quality and attention to detail. The look and feel of the comic is consistent and shows deliberate design.