I will admit that Area and perimeter is probably one of my favorite math concepts to cover because the possibilities are really endless. I am a gifted intervention specialist, and work with students in grades 1-5 in both reading and math. With this course load I am able to cover these concepts over multiple years, and increase the intensity as they move up. Being in a gifted resource room I am given the ability to really dive into complex project with my students.
Here is how I approach Area and Perimeter over the 5 years of elementary…
1st Grade – We start playing around with these concepts by using block manipulatives and creating 2D/3D structures, and counting the cubes.
2nd Grade – Geometrocity Project – the students combined these skills with map skills to collaboratively create a city.
3rd Grade – House project being described in this post
4th Grade – Food Truck Project. – they not only build a complete 3D model of a food truck (inside and out), but also develop a detailed business plan.
5th Grade – Cereal Project – We have now learned about volume and incorporate it with area and perimeter in order to create and construct our own cereal brand.
The project I am highlighting here takes place in my 3rd grade gifted math section.
3rd Grade House Project Outline:
- House interior planning sheet
- Create a 2D layout of the rooms inside your house
- Finding the dimensions of each room
- Mapping and measuring the exterior of your house
- Creating your 3D model
- Adding optional details to your house
iNTERIOR pLANNING
First, students will brainstorm and answer questions about their dream house by completing the following sheet. I encourage them to think beyond what they know to be a typical house, and imagine all the things that could be in their dream house. House interior design and plan sheet
2D house Layout
Students will receive a piece of grid paper and be instructed to map out all of the rooms they want to include in the interior. Some students may find it easier to make the exterior outline first and then add the rooms. Make sure there are not any random empty spaces. I told my students they could, but did not have to, include hallways. Remind them to act as if they are walking through the house as they make it so that is flows and makes sense as a house.
Finding the DiMENSIONS OF EACH ROOM
After the interior layout is complete the students will find the dimensions of each room in their house, as well as, the total area and perimeter. They will use this form to fill out the information…
3rd grade dream house – room dimensions
Mapping and measuring the exterior of your house
Once the interior design is complete thy will begin work on the exterior. First, they will create a drawing of what they want the exterior (front view) of their house to look like. For this I instructed them to use a ruler to make straight, even lines. I asked them questions while they were drawing to keep them thinking about how they are going to construct it as a 3D object. For example, how will you put your roof together? Do you want to create a second story? I also had them draw doors and windows. When they were finished wit their drawing they had to measure everything (since this was 3rd grade I had them round to the nearest half inch), and label the measurements on the paper.
Creating your 3D model
The students start this part with several sheets of grid paper that I printed on to cardstock (I use a lot of this throughout the year). The grid paper helps them count our the measurements, and when they constructed it most of them
made it so the grid was on the inside.
- measure and cut 4 squares or rectangles for the walls
- cut out any doors and windows, and color/decorate the outside
- Attach your 4 walls to a base paper (place clear tape along both side of the base in order to make it stand up).
- Cut and construct your roof (I let them get creative with this, and really use some trial and error).
Adding optional details to your house
As everyone finished up I let them kind of go out on their own, and add whatever elements they chose. Some students created outside objects such as trees, a fence, or a garage. A couple students made a removable roof so that they could create objects for inside the house. We ended up not spending a whole lot of time on this portion of the project, but I have several extension ideas.
Extension Idea…
1. If time allows you could turn this into a money lesson and give them a budget to “buy” items to fill and decorate their houses.
2. Allow them to put the house together and create other elements to make a neighborhood. This could also lead into a social studies lesson.
3. Writing Projects – Create a family to live in your hose. Write stories about the people who live here. Write about a mystery that occured in the house. Create a family tree for the house.
My students never cease to amaze me, and this years houses turned out great!