The Fly on the Ceiling: A Math Myth

by Julie Glass, Richard Walz (Illustrator)

Recognized as the father of analytic geometry, René Descartes was a French mathematician and philosopher. Kids will love this funny and very accessible tale - based on one of math's greatest myths - about the man who popularized the Cartesion system of coordinates.  

Genres: Mathematics, Picture Books, History, Biography, Childrens, Nonfiction

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rene Descartes is so important for the development of math that our early grade school children would benefit from meeting him in this funny story. I've read this to many classes from K through 6. They love hearing of Rene's battle with sloppiness and his discovery of the rectangular coordinate system to help him find order. This prepares the students for learning how the coordinate system works. I've used this book in kindergarten classes to prepare them for graphing problems. With a little more instruction I had them plotting points: algebra activity.

[Sylvia Ulmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

We used this read-aloud to begin our unit on CCSS.Math.Content.5.G.A.1 - Use a pair of perpendicular number lines, called axes, to define a coordinate system, with the intersection of the lines (the origin) arranged to coincide with the 0 on each line and a given point in the plane located by using an ordered pair of numbers, called its coordinates. Understand that the first number indicates how far to travel from the origin in the direction of one axis, and the second number indicates how far to travel in the direction of the second axis, with the convention that the names of the two axes and the coordinates correspond (e.g., x-axis and x-coordinate, y-axis and y-coordinate).

and CCSS.Math.Content.5.G.A.2 - Represent real world and mathematical problems by graphing points in the first quadrant of the coordinate plane, and interpret coordinate values of points in the context of the situation.

I thought it was a good reintroduction to the Cartesian plane. I liked that it introduced the word coordinate, although I wish it would have stressed the order of the coordinates more. I also found that I had to correct a misconception afterwards because of the illustrations. The fly would land within the squares of the grid rather than on the intersecting lines. I know that's realistic, but it would change the coordinates from (2,5) to something like (2.5,5.5).

I was glad that the students could get meet Descartes for the first time and was just tickled by the line, "this might seem like a weird thing to think about, but Rene was a philosopher, so it was normal for him." What a great way to give kids an idea of philosophy.

[Suchitra · Rating 5 out of 5]

i bought this book for my nephew during a landmark sale. I am so impressed that I will try to find the rest of the series.
I learnt about Rene and the Cartesian system of coordinates that we use to this day. It is an interesting story, written well, aimed at kids.

[Sabrina Show]

Title: The Fly on the Ceiling Author: Julie Glass

How would you describe the plot?
This book is about a guy named Rene Decartes, who was a philosopher and he investigates if a fly can land in the same spot twice.
How would you describe the characters?
Rene seems very intelligent. He really thinks out his processes before acting upon them.
What is the main conflict?
Trying to figure out if a fly lands in the same spot twice
What is the main theme?
That Rene showed us that you can do what you set your mind to. Also, some things in life help other parts of life.
How would you describe the author’s style?
Classy and expository
What point of view does the author use?
Third person
Share your thoughts on the design and layout of the book.
It is a story about a real guy, and I love the way the author displayed Rene’s life.
What lessons could you teach with this text? Please provide at least two of the Arkansas State Standards you would use in a lesson.
RI.2.6, W.2.8
I would ask my students to tell me the main idea of the story. Then ask what the author was trying to explain, are there any specific techniques that Rene used? The students would then get into partners and write down the steps that Rene took when determining if the fly lands in the same spot twice.
What is your overall assessment of the book?
Super educational, I would definitely read this book to my students.

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fly on the Ceiling: A Math Myth by Dr Julie Glass- Illustrator Richard Waltz- Childrens’s illustrated Color picture Book- Rene Descartes-Theme- modern geometry- The book narrates the story of how Rene Descartes. Though Rene is a messy person, he invents the Cartesian Coordinate System to get things his house in proper order. Rene saw a fly on the ceiling of his house. She was flying and sitting at various places. Rene invited his neighbor, a painter to draw squares on his whole room to identify where the fly was sitting. This system of geometry was later on known as Cartesian coordinate system. Richard Waltz’s illustrations help the reader to relate to the story. I have read this book in Hindi language.

[Jacklyn (ReadingBliss) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preread to discuss with kids.

I found this to be completely appropriate and inspiring for young minds. I thought it was a well done little early reader about a real person with imagined events. I think my children will enjoy it this month for their reading. It seems like just the type of story about a fly and an inquisitive mind to entertain my 9 year old boy. I would recommend it to everyone with kids.

Note, it does have the main character drawing on the walls, but it also explicitly tells kids not to do that because parents don’t like it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A made up story about how Rene Descartes came up with the system for coordinates.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy reader aimed at the AVERAGE 2nd grader that tells a funny story about a real philospher from long ago who was also a math wizard. It taught my 7 year old about a couple of math terms I thought we wouldn't see till the middle school years. I like how now when he does arrive at his first philosophy or logic class he'll feel like Descartes is an old friend.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was extremely interesting, and can be used to integrate literacy into math. While teaching about history of the cartesian plane, it also shares how to plot points and provides an idea that you can use to introduce plotting points to students in the classroom through a hands-on approach. The book is very informative and useful.

[Rochelle Sondae · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this book better before I read the Author’s note on the last page. It might have been better if they had completely made up the story instead of trying to weave Rene Descartes into the storyline. The premise is that Rene is a messy person so he invents the Cartesian Coordinate System to get his things in order.

[Jayetta Carter-mcfarlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a level 4 reading book that is recommended for Grades 2 - 4. The book has a challenging vocabulary that leads young learners into reading paragraphs. This book is also for a math reader, it introduces the Cartesian System of graphing coordinates. Though it is part fact and part fiction, I would use this book to introduce the Cartesian Coordinate System to 4th graders.

[Rachel Inbar · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 7-1/2 year old daughter read this to me and we both REALLY enjoyed it. The story is cute, funny and teaches something and the illustrations are fabulous. I also found that there was a good balance between long (somewhat intimidating) pages to really short, easy-to-get-through pages. Highly recommended!

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved how this book was interdisciplinary -- it touched on reading, mathematics, and history! This is a fun way to teach students about Cartesian coordinates. The story format may help them understand the concept better too.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book about Descartes and how he created the coordinate system. Would make a cool introduction to math concepts. Could create an activity using coordinates to find things in a room just like Descartes.

[Shelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am such a sucker for these sorts of books! Introductory fun reads about important people in history, in this case Rene Descartes mathematician and philosopher. This humorous, possibly true, telling of how he discovered graphing is perfect for young readers.

[Devin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good way to present graphs for reading x, y axises.

[JaNeal · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and creative approach to a story about Math. I love the leaps the author makes to create a fun and engaging story about math.

[Kandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Level 4 book, big words. All about the coordinate system. I love how they are entertaining yet teaches kids something in a way they can understand.

[R.J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An introduction to the Cartesian coordinate system through a silly, largely (entirely?) fictional narrative.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Explain who Rene Descartes and his creation of coordinates. The story itself is fictionalized. Good book, so much more interested than just telling your child the plain facts.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is a good book

[Cassie]

This is a story about how Rene Descartes created the coordinate system. It started with a fly and trying to see if it landed in the same place twice. He then made it the way to keep his house clean and organized.

this would be a really good way to introduce the coordinate system and how the numbers work to students.