Donna Cycz

PV STEMNET

August 19, 2005

Abstract: What Shape Is Your Town In?

Problem Statement

Students are not readily connecting classroom mathematics applications to their real world surroundings. Students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of geometry concepts which are represented in forms all around them.

Motivation

Students should be able to make connections after studying geometry in the class curriculum to buildings in their local town. Students will be motivated to find a connection between math concepts when they are allowed to use the school's digital cameras to take pictures of geometrical structures during a walking field trip.

Approach

After listing geometrical principles that have been covered during math time, students will take a walk outside to their playground to locate shapes and concepts. A more intense walking field trip through the town will allow students to expand their hunt for shapes and concepts. Students will download these pictures to class computers creating PowerPoint slides and identifying and highlighting shapes within the slides. These pictures will be printed into class books.

Results

The finished copy of the book will be a summary evaluation of the project. Rubrics will be designed by students before the field trip so that they know what is expected of them and their projects. Each student will have at least one page with a form/ building linking to a geometrical concept. The process of taking a picture, deciding on the geometrical form and term to be highlighted will be determined by that individual student. Conferencing during the project will be a formative evaluation method for each student.

Conclusions