da Vinci's Tree and Channel Widths
Initial Publication Date: September 26, 2007
Summary
Leonardo da Vinci was a brilliant artist, musician, writer, and scientist. This activity honors da Vinci's multidisciplinary talents through the combination of art and quantitative geomorphology. First, students learn the principles of maps and map symbols, highlighting watersheds and stream networks. Then they make a semilog plot of order using measurements from a quadrangle map. A da Vinci tree is then made using data and relationships developed from the observed drainage network.
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Learning Goals
- Foster multidisciplinary education by combining art and science in the classroom.
Context for Use
This activity is appropriate for use in K-12 education.
Description and Teaching Materials
The following materials are required:
- A standard USGS seven-and-a-half minute quadrangle map
- Graph paper
- Malleable grade wire
References and Resources
Shepherd, R. G., Ellis, B. N., 1997, Leonardo da Vinci's Tree and the Law of Channel Widths - Combining Quantitative Geomorphology and Art in Education. Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 45, p. 425