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Growing Patterns: Fibonacci Numbers in…
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Growing Patterns: Fibonacci Numbers in Nature (edition 2010)

by Sarah C. Campbell (Author), Richard P. Campbell (Photographer)

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21727123,606 (3.74)None
I love the way this book introduces the Fibonacci sequence into patterns throughout nature. People can usually say that this sequence shows up in nature but this book actually shows how and where. I love the incorporation of different plants as well, bringing science and math together. I love that this book can be used for tons of different age groups because of the diversity of the math, and to brush up on sequencing in later grades. ( )
  MeganSchneider | Apr 18, 2017 |
Showing 1-25 of 27 (next | show all)
This book talks about the Fibonacci sequence and where we can find it in nature. This would be an awesome book to introduce the topic to the class or even something the students could use as inspiration for a project. Many students will probably not pick this book up on their own, however, it is a good book to read to them to get them talking about math in the world around them. ( )
  madisonfayewest | Nov 16, 2021 |
I enjoyed reading this book and making connections with text and illustrations. Which is extremely beneficial for students when reading a story like this one. This story explains the Fibonacci sequence through plants, animals, and other patterns. Using a visual that includes many examples like this helps students not only understand the meaning of the term, but they also understand how to point it out in things that they see everyday which helps them make an even bigger connection to the material being taught. ( )
  deannalowe | Nov 21, 2019 |
Sarah C. Campbell takes you on an adventure to tell the reader how math is all around them. "Growing Patterns" discuses Fibonacci numbers and how they appear in nature. I think it explained very well what these numbers are and where they exist in our world. The real photography in the book grasped the attention of the reader while the numbers kept your mind working and engaged in the math. Though very informative the book was simple to read and follow. I think it would be a great book for upper elementary school to use in a math or science lesson. ( )
  lsiben | Apr 16, 2019 |
"Growing Patterns" was simple but explanatory. It started off showing flower petals and asking the reader to count them in each picture. It then went on to explain that the flowers were following a specific pattern called the Fibonacci numbers which start 1,1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and 13. It explained the process for following the pattern with clear visuals. The book then segued into finding the Fibonacci numbers in spirals found in nature such as pinecones and pineapples. This spiral was a way to introduce the Fibonacci numbers creating a spiral which follows the numbers and grows similar to the Golden Spiral. It really goes to show that math is everywhere we look! ( )
  owaguespack | Sep 9, 2018 |
One way to get kids interested in math is to point out all the ways in which numbers have special and very cool properties that are reflected in nature.

This book focuses on the way Fibonacci numbers can be found in everything from sunflowers to pineapples. The Fibonacci sequence is a series of numbers in which you get to the next number by adding up the two numbers before it. For example, starting with 1 and adding it to get the next number, and then continuing in this way, you get: 1+1=2, 1+2=3, 2+3=5, 3+5=8, and so on. Thus the first 12 numbers in the Fibonacci sequence are 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, and 144. Amazingly enough, you can see the Fibonacci pattern everywhere in nature, such as in more than 90 percent of plants in which multiple parts are arranged around a single stem.

The author provides a number of photographs in which you can see the Fibonacci sequence, with help on how to count the sections of the pineapple or the spirals of a pinecone.

After showing you how the Fibonacci sequence works, the author includes some background on other fascinating numbers, like the Golden Ratio, Lucas Numbers, and the Golden Spiral. And she could have added more! For example, Euler’s number, or e. With the possible exception of Pi, e is the most important constant in mathematics. The numerical value of e is approximately 2.718281828459045... (It has been calculated to 869,894,101 decimal places.)

E is used to calculate changing amounts like compound interest and radioactive decay and much, more more. You can also have fun with it: for example, you can select at random any number from 1 to 1000; do it again until the sum of the numbers selected is greater than 1000. On average, the number of times you have to pick a new number will be e!!!

There are so many magical patterns in math. It leads one to wonder, as Mario Livio does in his book, Is God a Mathematician? - did humans invent math, or did they just discover this possibly divine order? Is our universe like it is because it cannot be any other way? Is God in the Equation as suggested in the book by Corey S. Powell?

A glossary is at the end of the book.

Photographs in the book were contributed by both the author and her husband Richard Campbell.

Evaluation: Often kids can’t understand why they need to know about math or science. So it’s important to get kids to understand the way it structures our universe; it can enhance their appreciation of the unique and evoke excitement and curiosity to learn more. ( )
  nbmars | Apr 28, 2018 |
Media: Photographs
Grade level: elementary, primary, middle school
Review: This was a book which used flowers to teach the Fibonacci sequence which is a sequence used in math in order to explain how explains work. This book was also used to explain how spirals work with animals, like shells of certain invertebrates. It was a good informational book which provided lots of insight to the sequence and made it easy to understand.
  jdehowitt15 | Oct 24, 2017 |
I love the way this book introduces the Fibonacci sequence into patterns throughout nature. People can usually say that this sequence shows up in nature but this book actually shows how and where. I love the incorporation of different plants as well, bringing science and math together. I love that this book can be used for tons of different age groups because of the diversity of the math, and to brush up on sequencing in later grades. ( )
  MeganSchneider | Apr 18, 2017 |
Growing patterns is an interesting math book which is based on math relating to nature. The illustrations are filled with flowers and focus on Fibonacci numbers. The book gives you a sense of how Fibonacci numbers work by showing things with patterns such as spirals on pine cones and the center of flowers. Math has never been my favorite subject, but I’ve always liked Fibonacci numbers, although it can sometimes be challenging. If I were a teacher and my math lesson involved Fibonacci numbers this would be a great book to get students to see how beautiful and meaningful numbers can be. ( )
  asialandry | Nov 21, 2016 |
This book shows Fibonacci numbers in plants found in nature. It explains what the numbers are and how to find them by adding the previous number. I like how they relate these numbers to plants. I could see children having a lot of questions still about these numbers and this book once they finished reading. ( )
  NoelAbadie | Apr 19, 2016 |
This book gives students assistance in understanding Fibonacci numbers. Through the photographs in the book, it becomes much easier to understand and see this pattern in nature. ( )
  cbuquet5 | Apr 18, 2016 |
With few words and catchy, carefully-placed photos, the author shows the Fibonnaci sequence in nature: peace lily with one petal, spiderwort with three, flowering quince with five, cosmos with tight, making the case that “the numbers of petals on thee flowers-1, 2, 3, 5, and 8–have a special relationship to one another and to nature” (unp.). The exploration of the sequence becomes more complex as Campbell extends to the pine cone, sunflowers, pineapple, and the inside of a chambered nautilus. Campbell also introduces mathematical history by mentioning the Italian mathematician who noted the prevalence of the numbers and for whom the sequence is named. ( )
  pataustin | Feb 20, 2016 |
A unique book that explores the connection of the Fibonacci sequence in nature. The book allows the reader to observe how the Fibonacci sequence occurs naturally with flowers and shapes of species.

A wonderful book to share with students to teach the Fibonacci sequence. I love the photographs in this book and the connections with nature. This book also provides the reader with a glossary to support the terminology of the book. ( )
  mcnicol_08 | Apr 27, 2015 |
This is about Fibonacci numbers in nature. This book shows us how many plants grow from seeds and into beautiful plants. Flowers, such as, spiderworts, contain three petals and are very unique in color. This book is informational and shows beautiful pictures of flowers to represent the descriptions written in the book. The beginning of the book asks the reader to count the petals on each flower. This book teaches a clear understanding of what Fibonacci numbers and counting is. This book is focused on counting and shapes. This could be very helpful in a math or science classroom. ( )
  Raquelb | Nov 19, 2014 |
This book would be good to use in both a math class and in biology. The book starts of with the mysterious code of what provides plants and animals their shape, size, and color. The book then work towards answering this question with an exploration of the number pattern known as Fibonacci numbers. The beginning of the book starts with simple plants with 1, 2, and 3 petals. The amount of text correspond to the simplicity of the examples. As the sequence of numbers increase in size, the amount of text per page increases.
I enjoy the order in the information is presented. The author is asking the reader to use inductive reasoning to come to a conclusion about the patterns seen. The author also prompts readers with questions to help them make their observations. Observations could be made from beautiful, detailed photos included in each page of the book.
The book includes a pronunciation guide embedded in the text (Fibonacci)and a glossary the end. Both of these features are necessary to further explain about Fibonacci since the book is written for very young readers. ( )
  ktnguyen | Apr 26, 2014 |
As a mathematician and fan of the Golden Section, I was expecting a bit more from this book. The book contains three basic examples of Fibonacci numbers and one of the examples is lacking in relation. I was surprised to see a page at the end of the book that shows examples not containing Fibonacci numbers. The last page titled More about Fibonacci Numbers was more informative and interesting than the rest of the entire book.

That being said, this book could possibly spark an interest in a student who is otherwise not interested in mathematics. It shows a relation between math, nature, and the arts. The book design is great from the page size representing the Golden Ratio to the pattern of pictures in the flower example.

I really wish this book had more details about such a rich and wonderful topic. ( )
  mapalumbo | Jan 17, 2014 |
I really enjoyed this book. Fibonacci numbers were illustrated through flower petals. I never thought about it like that. Math can be found anywhere. I like at the end it gives a little information about the numbers and there's a glossary. ( )
  ArielDean | Apr 24, 2013 |
“Growing Patterns” is a book about how flowers and animals use the Fibonacci sequence all the time. It also goes through the process of how the two last numbers added together makes the next number. It shows examples of the sequence on all sorts of things like flowers, pine cones, and even pineapples. I think this is good because I think children can always have a good head start on math and if they get this sequence down early it could help in furthering their learning. Also, it shows that math really can be applied to the world, which most people try to deny.
Extension:
1. Go outside and count the patterns
2. Get a pine cone and pineapple and see if we can figure out the sequence
  katiekinsey | Apr 21, 2013 |
Z loves Fibonacci. This came too late in the game for him. Nothing new in terms of presentation. ( )
  beckydj | Mar 30, 2013 |
Book: Growing Patterns: Fibonacci Numbers in Nature
Author: Sara C. Campbell
Characters: None
Setting: Nature
Theme: Fibonacci Numbers
Genre: Children’s Picture book on numbers
Audience: Elementary/ Junior High
Curriculum: Math and science
Summary:
Book introduces the reader to what Fibonacci numbers are and the coincidence of how many plants in nature grow in Fibonacci numbers.
Personal Response:
This was a fun book to learn about a theory of math numbers. There’s also a unique ( )
  Je2nif4 | Feb 23, 2013 |
This book is begins explaining how seeds grow into different things and shows different flowers telling the reader how many petals each has. Then the book introduces the Fibonacci sequence and uses different examples to show the reader how we can see it in everyday nature, along with spirals in animals and pineapples, etc.
Critique (Genre): This is a great example of an informational text because the author does a great job of introducing different flowers that the reader can identify with before she introduces the Fibonacci sequence. This makes it much easier to grasp the information and then from there she is able to relate other things from nature that the reader would be aware of and could make a connection with to help them understand the information. Also the pictures are a great tool to enhance the learning.
Media: Photographs
  KelseyPrentice | Oct 30, 2012 |
Hynes Library:
Not a book for the younger kids, the concept is explained in great detail but the listener/reader needs to be concentrating to understand it clearly. Wonderful photos are used to illustrate the various points. ( )
  mccabe1030 | Jun 12, 2012 |
I really enjoyed this book, it made the Fibanochi Sequence fairly easy to understand, and wonderful photographs.
  LoniMc | May 25, 2012 |
This is an excellent simple treatment of a possibly complicated topic- fibonacci number sequences. The illustrations of the spirals are easy to understand. The text seems simple to follow, but I suspect that young readers (grades 3-6) can probably read the words, but would probably have trouble understanding the concepts fully. I think this book would be best read aloud to younger readers so that the math manipulations can be expanded upon. As simple as this concept sounds, the concept of numerical sequences does start moving into abstractions. Since most children are not able to really process abstractions until about 12 years old, the full mathematical import of this book would not occur until around 12 at the earliest. The style of the book (aimed at younger readers) might put off older readers who would not want to be seen reading "baby books", That is a shame really.
For my own purposes (secondary math teaching) I can see utility in this book. Pre-algebra, AlgebraI and Algebra II all deal with Fibonacci sequences. This could be read outloud together in class using a document camera. It presents this concept in an elegant, short, understandable package. This could be a light 15 minutes presentation that gives math history background, clear diagrams, and offshoots into other math applications such archtecture, natural science, graphic design, art, and fashion. I particularly liked the inclusion of the Golden Ratio in the book. I could use that to introduce a short unit on the Golden Ratio, which also segues into trigonometry. ( )
  harriewatson | Jan 29, 2012 |
Quick! Name me a book that:

is nonfiction
is a great read-aloud for preschool through 2nd grade
is all about science
has amazing photographs
and is also an easy reader.

Stumped? Well, until now there was really only one book I've found that fit the description: Sarah & Richard Campbell's Wolfsnail. Imagine my delight when I opened my mail a few weeks ago and discovered that this team has done it again. This time, they've created a book that explains Fibonacci numbers in nature.

I am not a math person (well, except algebra and chemistry, but that was just b/c I like formulas). Somehow, I totally missed the Fibonacci numbers when I was studying math and never quite figured out what they were. Now I know.

This book uses exquisite photographs and perfectly chosen text to explain the concept of patterns in nature, specifically Fibonacci numbers, in such a way that even a kindergartener can understand. Hey, I bet I could read this to PRESCHOOLERS and they would get it!

There's not too much text, it's simple enough for an easy reader; but each word is obviously perfectly chosen to explain a mathematical concept for any reader.

Verdict: This is going on my order list, into my summer reading promotions bag, and onto the list of school visit books I keep. Librarians and teachers, check this one out ASAP!

ISBN: 978-1590787526; Published March 2010 by Boyds Mills; Galley provided by publisher; Purchased for the library
  JeanLittleLibrary | Jan 1, 2012 |
Retelling: The Fibonacci sequence (apart from describing the geometry of a spiral) also describes numbers that are frequently programed into nature. This book demonstrates the growth of the Fibonacci numbers in photographs. The photographs are arranged in the spiral patterns.

Thoughts and Feelings: I like how this author interacts with the reader, telling them to count the petals in each photograph, giving the reader a chance to make mathematical connections before revealing the pattern in the end.
  Ms.Penniman | Dec 13, 2011 |
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