Our Clubhouse Project

Performance Task 1: The Blueprints

 

Lesson 1            Geometrical Shapes All Around Me

Objective:  Students learn how math relates to building and design.

 Materials

How a House is Built by Gail Gibbons

 

Explain to the students that they will be studying how math relates to building and design.  Each child will earn money at the end of a session for cooperative behavior and participation and good performance on class work and homework.  This money will be used to buy building supplies for the future construction of a clubhouse. 

 

Continue the  lesson by brainstorming why we have buildings (e.g., shelter, storage, meeting places, school).  Have children discuss different buildings they have visited.   Ask the children what they know about building structure.

 

Read How a House is Built by Gail Gibbons.  As you read the story, point out the buildings, and discuss their purposes. . 

 

After reading the story, go back through the story and identify different geometric shapes used in the buildings.  Then, lead a discussion about the importance of geometric shapes in the structure of a building.

 

Activity 1

Materials

Home magazines

Worksheet 1

Pencil

 

Conduct a Geometry Treasure Hunt using pictures from various home magazines.  Complete columns A (shape) and B (location of shape) of Worksheet 1.  (This worksheet will be completed in session 2.)

 

Summary:

Review the lesson’s objectives and activities for the day.

Distribute student journals and budget sheets. 

Explain how to fill in the budget sheet.

Give each student .25 if the session went well. 

Resources

Books

 

Gaughenbaugh, Michael and Herbert Camburn.  1993.  Old House New House:  A Child’s Exploration of American Architectural Styles.  Washington, DC:  The Preservation Press, National Trust for Historic Preservation.  ISBN 0-89133-236-7

Gibbons, Gail.  1990.  How a House is Built.  New York:  Holiday House. ISBN 0-8234-0841-8

MacDonald, Fiona.  1994.  Timelines:  Houses—Habitats and Home Life.  New York:  Franklin Watts.  ISBN 0-531-14333-3

POS Connections  GEO 5

SOL Connections  Math 2.18

                                         2.19  

 

Lesson 2            Structural Support

Objective:  Students learn about the use of shape and structure in building support.

 

Materials

Up Goes the Skyscraper! by Gail Gibbons

Read Up Goes the Skyscraper!  Lead a discussion on how  and why different structures and shapes support parts of buildings.

 

Activity 2

Materials

Worksheet 1

Pencil

Now look back at the pictures used in Activity 1.  Complete columns C (purpose of shape) and D (picture of shape in house) of Worksheet 1.

 

Portfolio Discussion

Materials

Large manila folder with sides stapled

Explain that a portfolio is a way of saving important activities that are related to a particular project or unit of study.  (Example:  An artist might have his/her special drawings in a special file for sharing.)  Tell the students that all activity and design sheets will be kept in a portfolio.  These portfolios will be shared at the end of the unit.

 

Homework

Materials

Journal

Pencil

Go on Geometric Treasure Hunt around your home and neighborhood.  In your journal, describe the geometric shapes you found on your treasure hunt.

 

Summary

Review the lesson’s objectives and have students add .25 to their budget totals for good class performance and behavior.

Assessment

Evaluation of worksheet 1.

Resources

Books

1992. Eyewitness Visual Dictionaries:  The Visual Dictionary of Buildings.  New York:  Dorling Kindersley.  ISBN 1-56458-102-0

Gibbons, Gail.  1986.  Up Goes the Skyscraper!  New York:  Four Winds Press, Macmillan Publishing Company.  ISBN 0-02-736780-0Glen, Patricia Brown.  1993.  Under Every Roof:  A Kid’s Style and Field Guide to the Architecture of American Houses.  Washington, DC:  The Preservation Press, National Trust for Historic Preservation.  ISBN 0-89133-214-6Wilkinson, Philip.  1995.  Eyewitness Books:  Buildings.  New York:  Alfred A. Knopf.  ISBN 0-679-87256-6
POS Connections
  GEO 6

SOL Connections  Math 2.18

                                                     2.19

                                                     2.20

 

Lesson 3            Wacky Furniture Shop (Geometric Furniture Shop)

Objective:  Students learn how area and perimeter relates to design.

 

Review journal entries.  Reward .25 for only well done entries.

 

Using resource books and magazines lead a discussion with children on the design elements and furnishings found in houses and other buildings.  Brainstorm with children different pieces of furniture that might be found in a clubhouse.

 

Activity 3

Materials

Wacky Furniture Shop Worksheet

Pencil

 

“In thinking about the furniture you want in your clubhouse, you visit the Wacky Furniture Shop.  You see many cool designs in the store.  While in the store, you notice some very interesting tea and play tables.”

 

“Look at the Wacky Furniture Shop Catalogue.  Find the perimeter and area of each table top.  The perimeter is the distance around the outer edge of the shape. The perimeter is important when you want to order a table skirt.  The area is the total number of square units that make up the top of the table. The area is important to know so that you can cover the table top with neat looking tiles.”

 

Homework

Materials

Pattern blocks

Graph paper

Pencil

 

Design your own table.  Now that you have seen all the cool designs from the Wacky Furniture Shop, you decide to design your own furniture.  Using graph paper, create a tea or play table for your clubhouse.  Find the perimeter and the area of the table top. 

 

Summary

Review the lesson and reward class performance with .25 for good class participation and behavior.

 

Assessment

Problem solving furniture sheet is evaluated.

Journal entries are critiqued.

All completed work is kept in portfolios for final assessment.

 

POS Connections  MEA 2

                                MEA 3

SOL Connections  Math 2.12 , 2.13


Lesson 4            Tile Style Floor-Pattern

Objective:  Students will demonstrate their ability to manipulate different geometric shapes in the creation of floor tiles.

 

Review homework and reward .25 for good work. 

 

Materials

The Wonderful Towers of Watts by Patricia Zelver

 

To introduce geometric patterns, read The Wonderful Towers of Watts.  Lead a discussion of how designers use tiles to enhance structure and beauty.

 

Activity 4

Materials

Pattern blocks

Graph paper

Pencil

Crayons, colored pencils, markers

 

Now that we have some wacky furniture, let’s see what we can do to design our clubhouse floor.  At least one floor in your clubhouse will be made of various tiles in a design of your choice.  The size of the floor is 12 x 12.  Using pattern blocks, design a tile floor for your clubhouse.  Be sure to use different colored tiles of various shapes and sizes.  Copy your tile floor onto graph paper.  Color.

 

Homework

Finish tile design at home if not completed.

 

Summary

Review the unit thus far and reward .25 for good class performance and behavior.

 

Assesment

Teacher grades table design homework for correct perimeter, area and graphic dimensions.

All completed work is kept in student portfolio.

 

Resources

 Books

 

Wilkinson, Philip.  1995.  Eyewitness Books:  Buildings.  New York:  Alfred A. Knopf.  ISBN 0-679-87256-6

 

Zelver, Patricia.  1994.  The Wonderful Towers of Watts.  New York:  Tambourine Books.  ISBN 0-688-12649-9

 

POS Connections  PFP 3

SOL Connections  Math 2.25

 

Lesson 5            Drawing Proportionate Figures

Objective:  Students will demonstrate congruency, similarity, and symmetry and apply these concepts to the solution of geometric problems. 

 

Learning to draw pictures of proportionate figures is critical to good floor plan design.  In this lesson, students will learn to draw a figure to proportion using graph paper.

 

Activity 5

Materials

Inch Graph paper

Lined paper

Pencil

 

Today you will be drawing a figure on graph paper.  Use any geometric shape you wish.  There is only one rule - all lines making up the shape must be straight.  First, divide the paper in half.  On the left side of the paper, draw your figure (a small house or other figure) so that it fits in a six inch square.  Do not make your shape too simple or too complicated.  After you finish drawing your figure, exchange your paper with a partner.  Your partner will re-draw your figure on the right side of the paper.  When re-drawing the figure, it must be larger and exactly proportionate.  For example, each box in the original drawing may represent 2 or 3 boxes in the re-drawn figure.

 

After you are finished, write two story problems related to your original drawing.  Switch your paper with your partner and solve the problems. Remember that both names need to appear on the paper.

 

Homework

Finish word problems in journal for homework if time runs out.

 

Summary

Review the day’s lesson and reward .25 for good performance and behavior.

 

Assessment

Teacher grades story problems for quality and accuracy.

 

POS Connections  PSA 1

                               PSA 3

                              GEO 1

                              GEO 4

SOL Connections  Math 2.13


Lesson 6            Futuristic Conference Room

Objective:  Students will demonstrate and apply concepts of measurement using non-standard and standard units of measure.  They will estimate and verify measurements.  They will apply measurement to interdisciplinary and real-world problem solving situations.

 

As an introduction to floor plan design, students will create a floor plan from an existing room in this lesson.  If possible, arrange for students to visit the principal’s or assistant principal’s office to measure the office, measure the furniture, and determine placement of the furniture on the floor plan.  If this is not possible, arrange for children to visit a conference room or other room to draw a floor plan.

 

Activity 6

Materials

Graph paper

Notebook

Pencil

 

Your principal and assistant principal need someone to draw a floor plan for an office or conference room in the school so they can plan for the redesign of the room.  You will use your notebook to measure the floor and furniture in the room. First, measure the length by using the length (long side) of a regular piece of notebook paper.  One length of the notebook will equal one block on your graph paper.  Draw the length and width of the floor on the graph paper to begin your floor plan.  Next, measure the furniture in the room or office and draw it on your floor plan.  Be sure furniture is placed in the correct position on the floor plan in order to draw the room to scale so that you can share with the class tomorrow.

 

Be ready to discuss this question:

 

What did you encounter in scaling the measurement of the room?

 

Homework

Materials

Art paper

Pencil

Crayons, colored pencils, markers

 

Using your floor plan as a guide, design what you think a futuristic office or conference room should look like.  Use art paper and color your design.

 

Summary

Review the unit and reward money as appropriate.

 

Assessment

Evaluate correct standard and non-standard units of measure used in floor plan.


POS Connections  MEA 1

                                        MEA 3

SOL Connections

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson 7            The Clubhouse—Inspirational Drawing

Objective:  Students will apply knowledge of geometric relationships and structural design to real-world problem solving situations.

 

Review futuristic floor plan and reward as appropriate.

 

Children will draw their clubhouse during this lesson.  Though you should encourage creativity, be sure children use structural design elements as a guide.

 

Activity 7

Materials

Drawing paper

Crayons, colored pencils, markers

 

Using art paper, draw your ideal clubhouse.  Fold your art paper so that you can draw the inside and the outside of your clubhouse.

 

Homework

Materials

Journal

Pencil

 

Realizing that you can’t have everything in your clubhouse, create a wish list for your clubhouse in your journal.

 

Summary

Review the day’s objectives and reward money as appropriate.

 

Assesment

Assess creative design used in futuristic office design.

 

Resources

 

Books

 

Weiss, Harvey.  1979.  Model Buildings and How to Make Them.  New York:  Thomas Y. Crowell.  (ISBN 0-690-01341-8)

 

Wood, Tim.  1995.  See Through History:  Houses and Homes.  New York:  Viking, Penguin Putnam, Inc.  ISBN 0-670-86777-2

 

POS Connections  GEO 3

                                GEO 6

SOL Connections

 


Lesson 8            The Clubhouse—Floor Plan Research

Objective:  Students will apply measurement to interdisciplinary and real world problem solving situations.

 

Review journal wish list and reward as appropriate.

 

During this lesson, children will look at floor plans and begin to draw the floor plan for their clubhouse.

 

Activity 8

Materials

Floor plans from home magazines

Graph paper

Pencil

 

Today you will look through magazines and floor plans.  Think about how you want to use your clubhouse.  Remember the drawing of your clubhouse that you made in the last lesson?  Using graph paper, begin the blueprint of your clubhouse.

 

Homework

Finish the blueprint for your clubhouse.

 

Summary

Review the unit thus far and reward money as appropriate.

 

 

Resources

 

Books

 

Gaughenbaugh, Michael and Herbert Camburn.  1993.  Old House New House:  A Child’s Exploration of American Architectural Styles.  Washington, DC:  The Preservation Press, National Trust for Historic Preservation.  ISBN 0-89133-236-7

 

POS Connections  MEA 1

                              MEA 3

                              GEO 3

                              GEO 6

SOL Connections 

 


Lesson 9            The Clubhouse Design

Objective:  Students will demonstrate understanding of geometric shapes and measurement in the creation of a detachable roof. 

 

Children will discuss the floor plan and plan a detachable roof for their clubhouse during this lesson.

 

Activity 9

Materials

Graph paper

Journal

Pencil

 

You’ve spent time planning and drawing your clubhouse.  Today you will draw a plan for a detachable roof for your clubhouse.  Remember that you designed a tile floor and table for your clubhouse. By having a detachable roof, you will be able to decorate the inside of your clubhouse.  In the next part of the unit you will have the opportunity to build and decorate a  model of your clubhouse.  In the meantime you will getting your portfolio organized to share with your group during the next lesson.

 

Homework

In your journal write about the math you used to design your clubhouse.

 

Summary

Review today’s lesson and plans for their detachable roof.   Reward as appropriate.

 

POS Connections  MEA 3

                               PSA 8

SOL Connections

 


Lesson 10            Portfolio Showcase

Objective:  Students will demonstrate their knowledge of geometry, measurement, and problem solving. 

 

Review journal entries.  Reward as appropriate.

 

To complete this performance task, children will present their clubhouse portfolios.  Each student will have the opportunity to present their floor plan, table, tile floor, and detachable roof drawing.

 

Activity 10

Materials

Journal

Pencil

 

Pretend you are a reporter for Architectural Digest.  Pick two of your classmates’ designs and portfolios.  Write a review article about the design and be sure to include at least three positive comments.

 

Summary:

Share reviews.

 

Assessment:

Evaluate portfolio, blueprints, and journal entries.

 

POS Connections  PSA 4

                              PSA 9

                             GEO 2

                             GEO 5

                             GEO 6

SOL Connections

Resources for Performance Task 1

 

Books

 

1992. Eyewitness Visual Dictionaries:  The Visual Dictionary of Buildings.  New York:  Dorling Kindersley.  ISBN 1-56458-102-0

 

Gaughenbaugh, Michael and Herbert Camburn.  1993.  Old House New House:  A Child’s Exploration of American Architectural Styles.  Washington, DC:  The Preservation Press, National Trust for Historic Preservation.  ISBN 0-89133-236-7

 

Gibbons, Gail.  1990.  How a House is Built.  New York:  Holiday House. ISBN 0-8234-0841-8

 

Gibbons, Gail.  1986.  Up Goes the Skyscraper!  New York:  Four Winds Press, Macmillan Publishing Company.  ISBN 0-02-736780-0

 

Glen, Patricia Brown.  1993.  Under Every Roof:  A Kid’s Style and Field Guide to the Architecture of American Houses.  Washington, DC:  The Preservation Press, National Trust for Historic Preservation.  ISBN 0-89133-214-6

 

MacDonald, Fiona.  1994.  Timelines:  Houses—Habitats and Home Life.  New York:  Franklin Watts.  ISBN 0-531-14333-3

 

Wilkinson, Philip.  1995.  Eyewitness Books:  Buildings.  New York:  Alfred A. Knopf.  ISBN 0-679-87256-6

 

Wood, Tim.  1995.  See Through History:  Houses and Homes.  New York:  Viking, Penguin Putnam, Inc.  ISBN 0-670-86777-2

 

Zelver, Patricia.  1994.  The Wonderful Towers of Watts.  New York:  Tambourine Books.  ISBN 0-688-12649-9