Patterns Across Space and Time

A Core Program for Fall/Winter ’02-03


Ruth Hayes (Animation)
hayesr@evergreen.edu

David McAvity (Physics & Math)
mcavityd@evergreen.edu

The Evergreen State College


Field Trip to La Push

Third week of fall quarter ’02

Three nights on the beach

 Goals:

·        Build observation, documentation and representation skills through hands-on activities

·        Introduce ideas of number patterns, algorithms, rates of change and symmetry

·        community building among students in program

 

Trip Schedule:

 

Monday (Tides Low 2:00 pm, High is 7:48 pm)

Arrive by noon or 1 pm.

Orientation and set up campsites.

Get to know you exercise:  Taboo game with pattern words

Assignments for trip:

Find objects for making sound.

Beach activity: create mazes and labyrinths on the beach

Recording sounds individually.

 

Tuesday: Rialto Beach

(Tides: Low 2:49 am,  high 9:29 am; low 3:10, high 9:00

Time-lapse photography and/or timed exposures

        Starfish movement, etc.  (after tide starts coming in)

        Erosion of sand in water.

Drawing to note pattern and symmetry and find evidence of number patterns (Fibonacci series) in Tide pool life and Native plants

       

Collecting series of like images; stones, leaves, shells for animation activity

 

Early dinner

Seminar Discussion on Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

 

Wednesday:  Second Beach

(Tide: low 3:46 am,  high 10:20; low 4:11, high 10:00)

 

Tide marking (10:15-4:15)

In Groups of four.   Build sculptures in the sand at the water line every hour and measure rate of decrease in water level

Shadow drawing:

Trace shadows in the sand every hour as sun moves across the sky. Use drawings for animation exercise and data for locating geographic position.

Record wave sounds:

Record sounds of waves on portable decks, to digitize so we analyze various scales of periodicity in the wave action.

 

Bushoong Sand drawings: exploration of networks in art

 

Drawing examples of other patterns evident on the beach

 

Silent Film screening with live sound: Steamboat Bill Jr. Buster Keaton

 

Thursday:  pack and leave.

 


 

Supplies:

Measuring tapes

GPS

Time lapse equipment: camcorders, tripods, laptop with software or lunchbox, protective covering

 

Find out # of digital cameras

Find 16mm film to show, use of projection booth at Mora campground

# of audio recorders.

 

How do they determine the zero tide level?