From the Ground Up: Modeling, Measuring, and Constructing Homes
Students use scale, measurement, nets, and geometric constructions to build
a model house. Students learn about surface area as they design the walls
for their house model. They then look at nets and do some geometric constructions
to design the roof for their model house. They investigate areas of triangles,
trapezoids, and polygons, and use area as the basis for estimating the cost
of materials.
NCTM Standard: Geometry
- Analyze characteristics and properties of two- and three-dimensional geometric
shapes and develop mathematical arguments about geometric relationships
- Use visualization, spatial reasoning, and geometric modeling to solve
problems
NCTM Standard: Measurement
- Understand measurable attributes of objects and the units, systems, and
processes of measurement
- Apply appropriate techniques, tools, and formulas to determine measurements
Primary Mathematical Goals
- Estimate and measure objects in the metric system
- Create and interpret scale drawings
- Use and compare different methods for estimating areas of rectangles,
triangles, trapezoids, and other polygons
- Use compass construction techniques to create nets for three-dimensional
shapes such as prisms and pyramids
- Use area formulas to calculate areas of rectangles, triangles, and trapezoids
- Use a scale factor
- Use a cost factor to estimate total cost based on area
