Garage Physics Spiral of Theodorus Block Kit

The Spiral of Theodorus Block Kit allows students to experiment with square roots and irrational numbers in physical form. Theodorus, a contemporary of Plato, may have been the first to prove the irrationality of the square roots from 3 to 17 (excluding perfect squares like 4, 9, and 16). The spiral attributed to him is thought to have been used in those proofs, and this kit brings that concept into a tangible, hands-on format. The kit includes 16 triangle-shaped blocks of increasing heights, adhesive labels for marking blocks, a ballpoint pen, a cardboard storage box, and instructions for assembly and experimental activities organized by learning level. Elementary school children can use the blocks to explore right triangles, make Theodorus' spiral, and gain first exposure to the Pythagorean theorem and square roots. Middle school students can test equivalencies with square roots and explore abstract concepts such as geometric shapes based on the Fibonacci numbers. High school students can use the kit to explore proof of irrationality for non-square integer roots and methods for approximating square roots.