QUESTION: “ DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU NEED
GEOMETRY TO BUILD A CITY?”
INTRODUCTION
Look around you…Geometry is EVERYWHERE!
The houses we live in, the buildings we learn and work in, the cars we drive…
All were designed and built using Geometry.
An understanding of Geometry and basic Geometric principles is an essential skill,
not just in Math class, but in real life.
On the fifth grade level, basic Geometry skills include identifying and classifying
angles and polygons, measurement, and calculating perimeter and area.
The purpose of this Webquest is to practice and master these basic Geometry skills
and apply them to the construction of a prototype city skyline.
This Webquest has been designed for fifth grade students and meets the Geometry
standards of New York State and the ISTE national technology standards.
CAN YOU SPOT THE POLYGONS?
STUDENT PAGE: PROCESS
In your group, choose the role in which you wish to become an “expert”:
Researcher
Designer
Architect
Engineer
1) Begin your online research. Explore links to your area of expertise.
2) Practice the online games to sharpen your Geometry skills and help you to become an
expert.
3) Create a Power Point, Google SketchUp, or Paint presentation on your area of
expertise.
4) Collaborate on the scaled Construction Drawings for the 3-D City Skyline.
5) Identify, classify, and calculate perimeter, area, and angle measurements of all
polygons.
6) Publish final project in a PowerPoint presentation.
7) Present to class on Smartboard.
TASK: TO BUILD A CITY PROTOTYPE
Working in groups of four, students will design and construct a scaled 3-D elevation of a
city skyline.
Each group member will assume one of the following roles:
1) The Designer: will “sketch” the preliminary drawings of the proposed city in the “Paint”
computer program. Include interior floor plans.
2) The Researcher: will conduct an online search of five familiar city skylines, report on
the history of each, and highlight areas for improvement .
3) The Architect: will construct “structural drawings” in the Google SketchUp program,
applying basic architectural principles to design sketches.
4) The Engineer: will identify and classify polygons, and measure and calculate perimeter,
area, and angles for all polygons to be used in the city prototype.
TEACHER’S PAGE
This Webquest is designed to be a culminating project for the fifth grade Geometry unit.
Project should be collaborative, worked on in both Math and Technology classes.
Project should be completed over the course of 5-7 class periods.
Prerequisites:
Students will have mastered basic measurement skills using a ruler and protractor.
Students will be able to identify and classify polygons.
Students will be able to construct and measure angles in degrees.
Students will be able to find the perimeter and area of given polygons.
Students will be able to design drawings in “Paint” and “Google SketchUp”, and create a
PowerPoint presentation of a city skyline.
TEACHERS
ISTE Technology Standards for students:
http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-students.aspx
NEW YORK STATE STANDARDS : MATH 5
http://www.p12.nysed.gov/ciai/mst/math/standards/revisedg5.html
NEW YORK STATE GEOMETRY STANDARDS
5.G.1
Calculate the perimeter of regular and irregular polygons
Students will identify and justify geometric relationships, formally and informally.
Geometric Relationships
5.G.2
Identify pairs of similar triangles
5.G.3
Identify the ratio of corresponding sides of similar triangles
5.G.4
Classify quadrilaterals by properties of their angles and sides
5.G.5
Know that the sum of the interior angles of a quadrilateral is 360 degrees
5.G.6
Classify triangles by properties of their angles and sides
5.G.7
Know that the sum of the interior angles of a triangle is 180 degrees
5.G.8
Find a missing angle when given two angles of a triangle
5.G.9
Identify pairs of congruent triangles
5.G.10
Identify corresponding parts of congruent triangles
PARENT PAGE
Enrichment Resources for Parents, Families, and Groups.
http://www.archikids.org/links.html
http://www.arch.pitt.edu/opportunities/field-trips.php
http://caf.architecture.org/page.aspx?pid=422
GOOGLE SKETCHUP
Type equation here.
THE ARCHITECT
Google SketchUp:
http://sketchup.google.com/download/gsu.html
Google SketchUp is a 3-dimensional drawing and modeling software program that allows
the user to create architectural drawings to scale and render profiles and crosssections of the drawing.
1) Download the free version of Google SketchUp to get started.
2) Install the program by double-clicking on the file name.
3) Open Google SketchUp and the main drawing board will appear on the screen.
4) Watch the animated tutorial.
5) Open program and begin to draw using the pencil tool.
6) Click on paint bucket to add color.
7) Be sure to save your work.
THE DESIGNER
Process: Sketch a preliminary design for a 21st century city skyline.
Use “Paint” computer program.
Collaborate with “The Researcher” on findings of existing city skylines and
identify areas for improvement.
Revise design drawings.
THE RESEARCHER
T H E G R E AT B U I L D I N G S C O L L E C T I O N :
H T T P : / / W W W. G R E AT B U I L D I N G S . C O M /
THE HISTORY OF SKYSCRAPERS
HT T P :/ / INVENTO R S.A B O U T. CO M/ LI B R A RY / INV E NTO R S/ B LSK YSCA P E
RS.HTM
GEOMETRY: MAKE YOUR OWN SHAPE
http://www.mathplayground.com/geoboard.html
GEOMETRY WORD PROBLEMS
http://www.mathplayground.com/wpdatabase/Geometry1_1.htm
GEOMETRY: DESIGN A FLOOR PLAN
http://www.mathplayground.com/PartyDesigner/PartyDesigner.html
GEOMETRY: IF THE SHAPE FITS…
http://www.mathplayground.com/buildingblocks.html
EVALUATION RUBRIC:
Points Awarded
Research partly
conducted 1
Research mostly
conducted 2
Research
extensively
conducted 3
10 or less
PowerPoint
slides
1
11-15
PowerPoint
slides
2
16 or more
PowerPoint
slides
3
Preliminary
Design Drawings
1
Revised Design
Drawings 2
Final
Construction
Drawings 3
Measurements
evident
1
Measurements
accurate
2
Measurements
extensive and
accurate
3
Somewhat
Creative,
but similar to
existing
1
Creative, some
novel elements,
Resembles
existing
2
Creative, mostly
novel, does not
resemble
existing
3
RESOURCES
S C H O O LYA R D S TO S K YS C R A P E R S
H T T P : / / C A F. A R C H I T E C T U R E . O R G / PA G E . A S P X ? P I D = 4 0 6
T HE G R EAT B U ILD IN G S C O LLEC T IO N :
HT T P://W W W.G R EAT B U ILD IN G S .C O M/
GOOGLE SKETCHUP:
H T T P : / / S K E T C H U P. G O O G L E . C O M / D O W N L O A D / G S U . H T M L
T HE G R EAT B U ILD IN G S C O LLEC T IO N :
HT T P://W W W.G R EAT B U ILD IN G S .C O M/
TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS FOR STUDENTS:
HTTP://WWW.ISTE.ORG/STANDARDS/NETS-FOR-STUDENTS/NETS S T U D E N T - S TA N D A R D S - 2 0 07. A S P X