General contractors: Working with area
This activity for grade six combines math, art, and writing, as students design a floor plan for a house and use calculations of area to arrive at a cost estimate.
An activity for grade 6 Mathematics
Provided by CareerStart
This activity combines math, art, and writing, as students design a floor plan for a house and use calculations of area to arrive at a cost estimate. Following the activity, students reflect on the experience by answering questions about the skills and requirements of contractors. You may choose to do this activity after the end-of-grade tests as an enrichment activity when you can devote more time, energy, and effort.
Learning outcomes
- Students will calculate the area of two-dimensional figures.
- Students will understand how general contractors use math in their careers.
Teacher planning
Materials needed
- Student handouts:
- Example of a computer-generated floor plan
- General contractor scenario and guidelines
- Student reflection paper
- Graph paper
- Calculator
Time required for lesson
Approximately 2 class periods and homework time both nights
Procedure
- Conduct a class discussion about different careers in which a person might need to calculate area.
- Brainstorm the square footage of certain spaces: the classroom, an average-size apartment (about 1000-1200 square feet), a moderate-size home (1800-2400 square feet), etc. Then measure your classroom. Encourage your students to discuss room/house/lot sizes with their parents or guardians.
- Pass out the student handouts and graph paper, and explain the assignment scenario to the students: Students will work as general contractors for a local company that builds homes. The company’s rate for construction is $100 per square foot. Each student must draw the plans for a home that is approximately 2,000 square feet.
- Have the students design a home using the requirements from the student rubric/guidelines and then complete the reflection paper.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Mathematics (2004)
Grade 6
- Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will select and use appropriate tools to measure two- and three-dimensional figures.
- Objective 2.02: Solve problems involving perimeter/circumference and area of plane figures.
