Kid ArchitectsAttention 3rd graders, you have been given the job of Architect. You first project is to build

your own dream house!

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By

Alexa MoranNovember 10, 2015

FOR 3RD GRADE: STANDARDS

Children’s Literature Connection: If I Built a House by Chris Van Dusen

PDE Standard Aligned System Standards

Standard 2.3.3.F- Estimate and verify measurements of length, area, weight, and capacity.

Standard 2.3.5.C: Calculate perimeter and area, and the sums and differences of measurements.

Standard 1.4.3.A: Write poems and stories

Standard 1.5.3.D: Write, developing an awareness of style, using a variety of sentence structures, adjectives, precise nouns, and action verbs.

Standard 1.5.3.C: Organize writing in a logical order. Include a recognizable beginning, middle, and end

Common Core

CC.2.3.3.A.1: Identify, compare, and classify shapes and their attributes.

CC.2.4.2.A.1: Measure and estimate lengths in standard units using appropriate tools.

OBJECTIVES

The students will be able to:

Design and new version of the book, If I Built a Book by Chris Van Dusen, and design their own home using given geometric shapes and using researched styles of homes.

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Alexa MoranNovember 10, 2015

TEACHER SUMMARY

We have read the book, If I Built a House by Chris van Duren and examined the different aspects of homes. We have discussed how architects build homes and the various shapes that can be used to build them. After viewing the website http://robpaulus.com, and various Pinterest posts, students have gotten ideas and seen various styles of homes as well as how architects initially design them. As a class, we will discuss various styles og homes and how different styles of homes may depend on where people live. In this activity, students will have the opportunity to right their own version of the house they would build. Students will then create their own homes using geometric shapes. They will then find the area and perimeter of their homes.

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INTRODUCTION

Hello architect engineers! Your first job as architect is to design and write your own version of how to build your dream house, just like what you read in If I Built a House. What makes your dream house different? What shapes would you use to design it? Would it be big and open, or small and cozy? Where would it be? In the city or the woods? As we talk about different homes as a class, and how architects first design their homes, jot down your ideas for your dream house. Then, create an outline of how you will structure your story; don’t forget about the beginning, middle, end, title, and descriptive details! Make sure to use full sentences and have a detailed illustration for your ideas. Then, once you’ve written your own version of If I Built a House, it’s time to draw the plan for your house, just like an architect. Use graph paper, pencils, and various shapes to measure out and design one floor of your home. The it’s time to find out just how big your house is by finding the perimeter and area. I’ll help you along the way, and don’t forget to ask your friends and other classmates for ideas and help.

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LESSON FOCUS

Using what we have learned in math, you should be able to design your own home using various geometric shapes. Using your author skills, you will write a story on how you would build your dream home, and then as an architect, design a floor plan for it! Remember to use your notes from our class discussions about different types of homes. Use the website below to help you remember which shape is which, and their characteristics:

https://quizlet.com/5111303/geometry-vocabularydefinitions-3rd-grade-flash-cards/

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Square

A quadrilateral with four equal sides and four right angles. Opposite sides are parallel.

Rectangle

A quadrilateral with four sides and four right angels. Opposite sides are parallel.

Circle

A polygon made with a continuous line which is always the same distance from the center.

Quadrilateral

A polygon with four sides and four angles.

 

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Parallelogram

A quadrilateral (four sides and four angles) where opposite sides are parallel.

Trapezoid

A quadrilateral (four sides and four angles) with one pair of parallel sides.

Rhombus

A parallelogram with four equal sides and equal opposite angles.

Equilateral triangle

A triangle that has three equal sides.

MATERIALS

Book- If I Built a House, By Chris Van Dusen

Computer- use the links to help understand the basics of various homes, an architects job, and geometric shapes.

Lined paper and pencil (write out the plan of the story)

Graph paper (to draw the design of the house)

Crayons (to illustrate the story, and color code geometric shapes on house design)

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GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES

Guidelines

1. You must use your peers for help and ideas.2. You must design a structure and story line in the animation program that

will successful let the kitten get her bowl of milk in the sky!3. Present findings to teacher and class through the presentation of the

animation.

Procedure

1. Discussing with peers around you, use your notes and ideas from our class discussion on homes and how they are built.

2. Write out your story layout on a piece of paper. 3. Write the story and draw illustrations4. Use your peers to help edit it to make sure it’s good to go!5. Using graph paper and list of shapes, create your dream house.6. Present to the class.

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RUBRICS

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1Mathematical Reasoning

Uses complex and refined mathematical reasoning.

Uses effective mathematical reasoning

Some evidence of mathematical reasoning.

Little evidence of mathematical reasoning.

Use of Manipulatives

Student always listens and follows directions and only uses manipulatives as instructed.

Student typically listens and follows directions and uses manipulatives as instructed most of the time.

Student sometimes listens and follows directions and uses manipulatives appropriately when reminded.

Student rarely listens and often \"plays\" with the manipulatives instead of using them as instructed.

Neatness and Organization

The work is presented in a neat, clear, organized fashion that is easy to read.

The work is presented in a neat and organized fashion that is usually easy to read.

The work is presented in an organized fashion but may be hard to read at times.

The work appears sloppy and unorganized. It is hard to know what information goes together.

Completion All problems are completed.

All but one of the problems are completed.

All but two of the problems are

Several of the problems

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completed. are not completed.

Mathematical Terminology and Notation

Correct terminology and notation are always used, making it easy to understand what was done.

Correct terminology and notation are usually used, making it fairly easy to understand what was done.

Correct terminology and notation are used, but it is sometimes not easy to understand what was done.

There is little use, or a lot of inappropriate use, of terminology and notation.

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1Title Title is creative,

sparks interest and is related to the story and topic.

Title is related to the story and topic.

Title is present, but does not appear to be related to the story and topic.

No title.

Introduction First paragraph has a \"grabber\" or catchy beginning.

First paragraph has a weak \"grabber\".

A catchy beginning was attempted but was confusing rather than catchy.

No attempt was made to catch the reader\'s attention in the first paragraph.

Organization The story is very well organized. One idea or scene follows another in a logical sequence with clear transitions.

The story is pretty well organized. One idea or scene may seem out of place. Clear transitions are used.

The story is a little hard to follow. The transitions are sometimes not clear.

Ideas and scenes seem to be randomly arranged.

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Requirements All of the written requirements (# of pages, # of graphics, type of graphics, etc.) were met.

Almost all (about 90%) the written requirements were met.

Most (about 75%) of the written requirements were met, but several were not.

Many requirements were not met.

Illustrations Original illustrations are detailed, attractive, creative and relate to the text on the page.

Original illustrations are somewhat detailed, attractive, and relate to the text on the page.

Original illustrations relate to the text on the page.

Illustrations are not present OR they are not original.

Focus on Assigned Topic

The entire story is related to the assigned topic and allows the reader to understand much more about the topic.

Most of the story is related to the assigned topic. The story wanders off at one point, but the reader can still learn something about the topic.

Some of the story is related to the assigned topic, but a reader does not learn much about the topic.

No attempt has been made to relate the story to the assigned topic.

Objectives: Students will be able to…

List the steps and give reason for researching information (Knowledge) Understand the type of mathematics involved in geometry and give

reasoning. (Comprehension) As a whole group, discuss factors in which architects design their homes,

and apply that discuss in their individual design and reasoning. (Application)

Interpret own geometric solution and the differences/similarities in the groups results. (Analysis)

Use their own results and design to write an organized and clear story. (Synthesis)

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Read other members stories and designs and identify the correctness and connection between the two and justify. (Evaluation)

REFERENCES

RubiStar, http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?ts=1434727431, 19 July 2015.

Van Dusen, C. (2012) If I Built a House. New York, NY. Dial Books Publishers.

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