Spatial Concept Perspectives

We have gathered ~300 excerpts from published works about fundamental spatial concept terms. These have been cross-referenced with the concept lexicon appearing on the left. Those terms were drawn from the U.S.National Science Education Standards (NSES 1996) for topic areas B - Physical Science, C - Life Science, D - Earth and Space Science, as well as from the 1994 U.S. Geography Teaching Standards for grades 9-12. Those standards can be browsed here.

spatial concept terms

disciplinary perspectives on "coil"

coil

[OED]: 2. a. A series of concentric circles or rings in which a pliant body has been disposed; hence, such a disposition or form in a body which is rigid.

Linguistics

OED Online (2nd Ed.)

Oxford English Dictionary, Online Edition

coils

A curved line or surface that continuously twists around a central point or axis. This category also includes cochleae (shells), eddies, helices, scrolls, spirals and vortices. Natural coils are modeled by mathematical expressions going back to Archimedes. The threads of a bolt and the molecular structure of DNA are helical. Cochleoids include forms such as seashells, the inner ear, and animal horns. Dynamic processes can generate spirals such as galaxies, hurricanes and tornadoes, and the ˜pursuit' curve of a predator after a prey.

Science Education

Mathewson, J. H. (2005)

The visual core of science: definition and applications to education