Geometry Project

Thank you to CINDY over at love2learn2day for linking me in the teaching blogging community. If you haven't been over to visit her blog, it's an awesome resource and I am posting this post for the "Math Box Monday" :)

This is a project I usually do in the winter right after Christmas break to ease us into school again. It's a FUN project that allows students to use their creativity while exploring new/old geometry concepts.

Time Allotment:
- 1 week (or more)

Concepts Covered:
- Intersecting, Parallel & Perpendicular Lines
- Acute, Right, Obtuse & Straight Angles
- Polygons
- Polyhedrons

Procedure:
The first two days are spent working on the Geo-Map and the last two days are spent working on the Geo-Bug. Their only homework during this time is to work on these projects so that they are AWESOME on Friday.

Geo-Map:
Students will design a city that incorperates many 2-D geometric properties such as lines and polygons. Have students draw their whole city in pencil first and then color it.

Geo-Bug:
Students will design a 3-D geometry bug based on polyhedra that has been covered. Students will give the bug a name, describe its features and habitat.

"Geopillar" circa 2010
Uses spheres, trapezoidal wings, rectangular prisms for legs and triangular prisms for antenna

Directions for Geo-Bug and Geo-Map: $4

I hope this is a great project for your classroom! I know my students LOVE this one and it is anticipated every year from the start of school!

When I Grow Up {Project}

I try to do at least two major projects each semester to challenge my students to apply the math they've learned to the "real world". The most common question comment I hear is "When am I ever going to use this?" That's why I love this project. It shows my students that no matter what career they choose, they'll need SOME type of math to get there. Usually it's a whole lot more than they've anticipated!

Project Description: Career Project - "When I Grow Up" (grades 5 - 7)
*Students will reflect and investigate the career path they are interested in and find what it takes to get there and make a sample monthly budget off their proposed monthly income and present their findings to the class. (PDF of project is available at the end of blog)

Time: 3-4 weeks

Purpose: To allow students to investigate what they want to be when they grow up and see that math is involved in every career path they choose at some level. Students will also get a better understanding as to "where the money goes" each month and hopefully have a better appreciation for what their parent's do.

I really enjoy doing this project each year with my 6th graders. Especially when I had the same class for three years in a row. We did a 1950's project, then this, then a compound interest project. I dare say those kids are prepared for real life!

Here's some pictures of my precious students in their presentations:

PDF of Career Project: CLICK HERE!