By Cindy Schacht, middle school Math teacher.

3-D geometry, volume & surface area through architecture:

The international architectural challenge is complete! Our student architects were hired to design and build homes all around the world. Working in teams, they reviewed a list of commissioned homes and associated specifications, like a canal home in Amsterdam, an eco house in New Zealand, a mud house in Zambia, a log cabin in New Hampshire, a Chinese Hakka house, and an Iceland turf house, among others. Specifications for each commission took into account the number of people living in the home, regional climate, the surrounding landscape, and features like solar panels, using natural elements for insulation, and the size of land the house occupies. 

With specs in hand, students designed and built new homes, learning about structures in different parts of the world, architectural design elements, 3D shapes (both flattened and constructed), and the difference between surface area, square footage, and volume. In addition to building a model of their homes out of paper, students also provided mathematical specs for their homes and decorated them with cultural accuracy (based on student research).

Our young architects showcased their works at the Hyla International Conference where 7th and 8th graders cast votes for different categories. All houses received votes and awards were given!