Math Project - Designing your Backyard

When working on Measurement, project ideas are abundant.  There are so many things you can do with it to make it real for the students.  Here is an idea that fits right in.  This may have been one of the first math projects I ever did and the students really enjoyed it.  I basically had the kids design what they would like their backyard to look like.  There of course are certain criteria that the students had to put in but I also allowed them to add whatever they wanted into it.  You could extend this and have them try to figure out the cost, in fact I did it once but my students had a difficult time with it.  Now with more and more access to online research in the class the students can find information on cost a lot easier.

In this I had the students work on graph paper to make my marking a lot easier and I have seen other teachers have them do it on graph style chart paper which really brought the design out. Here is the criteria that I set out for them.
You can have the word document here if you don't want to copy and paste.

Designing a Backyard

Name:

Class:

 

You just moved into a new house and are upset at your parents for making you leave your old neighbourhood and friends.  To try to make it up to you, your parents decided to let you design the large backyard for your new place.  You are allowed to put in three things that you want so that you will enjoy the new house.  Your parents want to make sure you’re happy so they are already putting in a swimming pool (you just have to tell them where to put it). The only thing your mom wants is some garden space for her vegetable garden. Your father needs to put in his shed to store the lawnmower and other outdoor supplies and would like a patio somewhere.  Your little sister decides she wants something in the yard to be in a triangle shape but doesn’t care what.  The rest is up to you.

 

The size of your new rectangular backyard is 20m long and 15 m wide.

 

You will need to: 

        Draw a rough copy and good copy of the backyard.

        Mark on your drawing the measurements of all items in your backyard including length and width.

        Make an organized list of what is needed and what you want in your backyard.

        On your list you need to record the area and perimeter of each item in your backyard.

        The swimming pool is circular and you must record the radius, diameter, circumference and area of the pool. 

o   You must also figure out how much water will go into the pool if it has a height of 1.5 meters.

        Your mother’s garden must be rectangular and you must record the area and perimeter of it for her planning.

o   She also needs to know how much manure to put in it if she digs .5m down into the ground so that she fills it back to ground level.

        Your father will want to paint the outside of his shed his favourite colour red.  He is asking you to figure out how much paint he will need if his shed is 3m tall, 4m long and 3m wide (including the roof and for some reason he wants to paint the floor too).

        You will need to creatively design your backyard and make sure all elements of the backyard are a realistic size.

 

 

And a rubric I used for marking

 

Designing a Backyard

 

Aspect	Not Yet Within Expectations	Minimally Meets Expectations	Fully Meets Expectations	Exceeds Expectations
Snapshot	Student is unable to complete the task without ongoing help; cannot follow procedures independently.	Student satisfies most basic requirements of the task, but work is flawed or incomplete in some way	Work is complete and accurate (may include some minor flaws or errors)	Work is complete, accurate, and efficient; shows depth of understanding.  Student may use innovative procedure or develop an extension
Concepts and Applications Applies understanding of linear measurement, area, perimeter, volume, and circumference by: §  Constructing specific lengths §  Selecting the appropriate standard units to measure §  Calculating area, perimeter, surface area and volume	Applies few, if any, of the following concepts:   §  Constructing specific lengths §  Selecting the appropriate standard units to measure §  Calculating area, perimeter, surface area, circumference and volume	Applies most of the following concepts:   §  Constructing specific lengths §  Selecting the appropriate standard units to measure §  Calculating area, perimeter, surface area, circumference and volume	Applies most of the following concepts appropriately   §  Constructing specific lengths §  Selecting the appropriate standard units to measure §  Calculating area, perimeter, surface area, circumference and volume	Applies the following concepts appropriately   §  Constructing specific lengths §  Selecting the appropriate standard units to measure §  Calculating area, perimeter, surface area, circumference and volume
Strategies and Approaches Uses appropriate strategies, including estimation to design a backyard that meets the specifications given	Unable to create an appropriate design; may omit features or exceed given size Unable to use estimation in planning or to verify results	Designs a backyard that includes most of the required features and is close to fitting within the required dimensions; the size of several features may be unrealistic Needs help to use estimation in planning, or to verify results	Designs a backyard that includes the requited features and fits within the required dimensions; the size of some features may be unrealistic Uses some estimation in planning; if asked, can use estimation to verify results	Designs a backyard that shows some innovation; all required features are included and of realistic size; includes at least one additional feature; fits within required dimensions Independently uses estimation in planning and to verify results
Accuracy Accurately calculates and records perimeter, area, surface area, and volume of different features   Dimensions are accurately drawn on grid paper	Makes major errors or omissions in:   §  Calculating and recording area, perimeter, volume circumference, and surface area. §  Drawing dimensions on grid paper	Includes some errors or omissions in:   §  Calculating and recording area, perimeter, volume circumference, and surface area. §  Drawing dimensions on grid paper	Generally accurate, few minor errors in:   §  Calculating and recording area, perimeter, volume circumference, and surface area. § Drawing dimensions on grid paper	Accurate in :   §  Calculating and recording area, perimeter, volume circumference, and surface area. §  Drawing dimensions on grid paper
Representation and Communication Presents plan clearly, including labels, tables and appropriate standard units.	Presents a plan that may be unclear and confusing Uses few appropriate standard units Table is messy and confusing	Presents a plan that may be confusing in places; may omit some labels Uses some appropriate standard units Table is confusing in places	Presents a plan that is generally clear, easy to follow and well labelled Uses appropriate standard units Table is neat and accurate	Presents a plan that is clear and easy to follow; labelled clearly and precisely Uses appropriate stand units Table is neat and accurate