Overview
Students will fine tune their understanding of measurement: surface area and volume and cost of living through designing a dream room. They will select a room size; calculate surface area of ceiling, walls and floor. Materials to finish the room: paint, carpet, tile, wallpaper will be shopped for online. Furniture, electronics, and linens to furnish the room comfortably will be shopped for online. All materials and items selected online will be documented in Excel files. A floor plan will be created to display furniture placement with an accurate scale.
Objectives
- Students will measure the classroom to get a concrete idea of room size.
- Students will design a dream room using either standard or metric units.
- Students will use an Excel spreadsheet to record dimensions of the dream room as wells as formulas for surface area and volume to calculate quantities and cost of materials needed for floor covering, paint for walls and ceiling and an air-conditioning/heating unit appropriate for the room's volume.
- The students will select furnishings from websites to fill their dream room (Minimum of 10 items), recording details about each item in a second Excel spreadsheet.
- Students will draw their room and furnishings to scale in Cad Standard Lite (free download).
Texas TEKS
Math grade 8
- 111.24.8.8A find lateral and total surface area
- 111.24.8.8B connect models to formulas
- 111.24.8.8C estimate answers and use formulas to solve application problems involving surface area and volume
- 111.24.8.14A Identify and apply mathematics to everyday experiences
- 111.24.8.14D Select tools to solve problems
- 111.24.8.15A Communicate mathematical ideas language, representations, and models.
Technology Applications Middle School
- 126.12.1F Perform basic software application functions
- 126.12.3A Cite sources using established methods
- 126.12.4A Use strategies to locate and acquire desired information on LAN/WAN
- 126.12.7B Use spreadsheet formulas and functions
- 126.12.11A Deliver product electronically
- 126.12.12B Employ technology specifications to evaluate projects
Time Required
- Technology Applications classes 5 one hour class periods + presentation time. (Project will take less time for classes who have already worked with Excel formulas.)
- Math classes may team with TA teacher and split activities to be done in each class.
Materials Required
Closure Discussion
- Name one measurement concept you mastered during this project
- What did you learn about surface area?
- What is the purpose of a floor plan?
- Did you see projects presented that were not to scale? How did you know?
Evaluation
Excel worksheets are graded based on whether students have correctly set up columns, entered data and used correct formulas. See
1. room_design_calculations_lastname.xls, to calculate area, volume, linear feet for flooring, list item number which ties to floor plan
2. shopping_list_lastname.xls, to list each item of furniture or furnishings. Example: for bedroom, this may include sheets, comforters, pillows, chairs, desk, electronics.
Floor plan – should list all items on shopping list, accurately scaled
Extension Activity
- Build a 3-d model of your dream room
Modifications
- Struggling students could use Word or Excel to create their floor plan and use clipart or Autoshapes to represent the furnishings.
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January 17, 2007
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