Exit Slip: Babylonian-Based Connections

    During today's lecture, we discussed how key geometrical advancements and applications were made by Babylonians. The most well-known impact of the Babylonians is how time is divided. They calculated numbers using a base-60 (sexagesimal) method. With this knowledge, the reason there are 60 seconds in a minute and 360 degrees in a circle is due to their brilliance.

    The activity our class participated in today was wonderful. It presented a time for everyone to have a voice and in ways, gave each student the freedom to express themselves. As future teachers, exercises that resemble the one today give students time to think on their own, write any key concepts for discussion and moments to share their thoughts. 

     When I think of a complete fiscal year, my fiscal year begins in March and is divided evenly into 4 quarters. I divide my months evenly into quarters because I come from a business background where completing quarterly reports for clients was a significant role for my position. Q1 consists of month: March - May, Q2: June - August, Q3: September - November, and Q4: December - February. 

     I divide my months this way to stay on top of big milestones happening throughout the year. A few events that take place during the months in Q1 are setting new goals, birthday planning, preparation for summer months, and the completion of the school winter semester. Q2 calls for relaxation. It's the summertime and I tend to partake in a lot of outdoor activities. Q3 is a busy three months. Executing goals, starting new classes or programs, and self-reflection are conducted during this time. Q4 is the holidays. Time for family and reminding self to always be thankful for life. 

     Today's group discussion drew on connections that we, future teachers would need to have within our classroom. Implementing tasks that allow for student discussions is a significant stage here. Every student is unique in their own way and this should be celebrated in the classroom. Creating a warm environment for students is a positive way to incorporate open discussion and dialogue in the classroom. 

**EDIT**

    The sexagesimal system, base 60, was probably chosen by the Babylonians because of its adaptability in calculations. In addition to having a large number of parts (12 total), 60 is notable for being equally divided by 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, making it possible to employ simple fractions like 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, and so forth. This is particularly helpful in real-world fields. Base 10 is less flexible when it comes to managing fractions and measurement since it lacks this divisibility, while being common because of our ten fingers and ten toes (1, 2, 5, 10).

    I recall a discussion on the number 60 during this day's class. 60 has more meaning than just its mathematical value. It is consistent with the Babylonians' deep examination of visible patterns of time and environment. For instance, they divided circles into 360 degrees (60 × 6) since they believed that the year had around 360 days.