Monday, November 12, 2012

Mathematics & Eyesight: Part 1 Field of Vision

I've always loved learning about social-biology and the effects evolution plays on development. One area of particular interest is the eye. More specifically, why do some animals have eyes sight that allots them a larger field-of-view than others? Why can some animals see farther or more acutely but have less peripheral vision? This activity incorporates degrees of a circle for better understanding. It would be great to couple this lesson with a biology teacher on your team. Note: The degrees used here are rough estimates and may be subject to “Google Error”. Feel free to double check the suggestions and send me corrections. The activity will still work the same.

What You Will Need

  • Paper & pencil

  • A 360 degree protractor

  • Activity sheet (see below)

Overview and Goal of Activity

The activity will involve students looking at pictures of different animals and guessing their field-of-view. Students will then be told their field-of-view and trace the degrees of vision using a 360-degree protractor. After sketching the degrees of vision students will take guesses as to why this would help the animal survive.


Step 1: Hand each student a 360-degree protractor and activity sheet (see below).

Step 2: Our first animal is the horse

Step 3: Have students guess at the degrees of vision of a horse

Step 4: Provide them the actual degrees of vision of a horse and have them sketch where they think the blind spot is (see below).

Step 5: Provide them with the actual information of a horses blind spot (see below).
Step 6: Have students guess to why such vision would be beneficial to a horse.

Example of Activity Sheet

1) Take a guess at the degrees of vision of a horse ____________degrees

2) Why do you think this? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) The actual degrees of vision of a horse is near _350___degrees

4) Using your protractor, trace 350 degrees and where you think the blind spot is.

(Notice the blind spot in the front)

5) Why do you think horses developed this form of eyesight?

Continued Activity

Step 7: Repeat the same steps for each of other animals you wish to study

Human Field-of-view = nearly 180 degrees

Owls Field-of-view = 110 degrees

Dogs view =250 degrees

After Activity Discussion:

Why do you think animal have different degrees of vision? Why do most hunter have a more narrow, forward degree of vision whereas most non-hunters have more peripheral view?

Homework Question:

What would life be like if your degree of vision was like that of a horse?


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