Cross-Curricular Activity
GRADE 5 – Math integrated with Science
1. Specific Curriculum Expectations
Science
Strand
Expectations
Understanding structures
and mechanisms.
1. Analyze the effects of
forces from natural
phenomena (e.g.,
tornadoes, hurricanes,
earthquakes, tsunamis)
on the natural and built
environment.
Math
Geometry and spatial sense
1. Distinguish among
polygons, regular
polygons, and other 2
dimensional shapes
2. Identify and classify
acute, right, obtuse, and
straight angles
3. Identify triangles (ie:
acute, right, obtuse,
scalene, isosceles,
equilateral) and classify
them according to angle
and side properties
2. Description of Activity
Students will be asked to use a list of geometrical shapes to develop and construct a
structure of their choice that would be able to withstand an environmental earthquake.
This structure should be representative of something found in a city (a house, a building,
a bridge, etc.) This would be the culminating activity for both the geometry and science
strand. Students will be asked to use any computer program to develop a blueprint for
their structure prior to physically constructing it. Each student works independently and
can use any household items or the items provided by the teacher. These items may
include popsicle sticks, toothpicks, string, plasticine, glue, tape, cardboard, paper, Lego,
etc. The goal is to build the structure strong enough to not break apart or fall down during
the earthquake simulation.
Class schedule:
Day 1 – explanation of activity and preparation work for blueprint
Day 2 – formation of blueprint using technology (Book computer lab)
Day 3 + 4 – Construct structure
Day 5 – Earthquake simulation/ presentation of structure.
Using cardboard rectangles representing different tectonic plates, students place
their structures dispersed and build a town. Each cardboard plate will be attached to the
others via pipe cleaners. Once everyone’s structure is set up, each student is designated a
pipe cleaner to hold and all together they pull on their individual pipe cleaners and
simulate an earthquake. This will also show the movement of the earth’s tectonic plates.
After the simulation, there will be a group discussion on why some structures
were stronger than others and why some broke apart easier. This will tie back into the
different geometrical shapes and the strength of the different angles.
List of shapes that must be used:
1. Triangles (at least 1 right angle and 1 acute triangle)
2. Rectangles
3. Squares
4. Triangular pyramids
5. Rectangular pyramids
6. Hexagons
7. Pentagons
3. Explanation of deeper understanding that this activity provides for the
students
This lesson integrates a math concept into the real world and introduces students to
how math is used in professions like engineering and architecture. Math is an integral
part of architectural planning. This lesson gives the students an opportunity to be creative
and apply their theoretical studies to practical situations. It may help the students answer
their questions on “why are we learning this.” As for the science component, most
students have never experienced any natural phenomenon and this activity may bring the
information that they learnt in books to life and demonstrate the activities involved in an
earthquake.
4. Use of Technology
Students will have access to the computer lab. There they will be asked to create a
rough blueprint of the structure that they will be building.
They may use programs like Paint or Microsoft Word or any other program that
would allow them to create the structure.