Front Lawn Project

For this project the pathways to learning model is used (which includes Activate and Engage, Explore and Discover, and Organize and Integrate) to facilitate the student’s learning of the math concepts. Students are challenged with a task to design an ideal lawn with walkways, planters and flower beds and then build a physical structure by measuring and using mathematical concepts of perimeter, area, line segment, and rectangles to ensure everything fits in their lawn and is up to scale. They are able to use mathematical concepts and apply them to real life situations and think through it to solve a problem. We end each day with a reflection activity to allow students to store and organize the information into their long term memory.  Student’s learning is supported by allowing students to learn vicariously from other students and not only depend on the instructors for help.  When students ask for the instructors help, the instructors direct them to other students that are further along.  

Challenge: Mrs. Trinidad has an open space in her front yard that needs landscaped. She wants planters, flowerbeds, a walkway, grass, vegetable garden, gravel or mulch and loves hello kitty so make sure it looks appealing.

Materials

• Cardboard

• Paper

• Scissors

• Construction paper

• Glue

Objectives

Students will implement creativity and imagination in a project based learning environment

Students will have fun in an interactive environment

Students will apply prior knowledge in the building of a structure

Students will construct and design a product by combining  Arts, Engineering, and Mathematics

Students will reflect on their work

Assessments

Physical Structure  

Reflection Survey

Using mathematical concepts

DAY 1

Activate and Engage- Students will be able to recall and have discussions with others on previous written work by journaling

• Intro (10 min)

  • Discuss mathematical concepts and terminology  

• Find a partner who will work with you for the remaining project

• Prompt (25min):

  • • Think about a yard that is appealing to you and journal what is in the yard

• Share- Paired verbal fluency -30, 45, 60  sec to share with classmates  

• Sketch (40 min)

  • Talk to your partner and together make a quick sketch of what that lawn looks like.

• If they have enough time, sketch it out on the actual lawn cardboard

• Class Discussions- students will share with the class on their findings

Day 2

Explore and Discover- Given their sketches in the previous section, students will MAKE their structures.

• Reflect (5 min)-Take out sketch and go over sketches and discussions from previous day.

• Make! Mathematics and Engineering

  • Go to maker space and measure out their lawn using mathematical concepts

  • Sketch if needed

  • Use materials from maker space to construct their lawn and ensure things are up to scale and can fit

Day 3

Organize & Integrate-  Students will use this opportunity to present and reflect on their work.

• Reflections

  • What mathematical process were used?

  • How did you come up with your idea?

  • What did you learn about measurements?

  • In what other things can measurements be used?

• Gallery walk within the classroom and questions they have to other classmates.