A WebQuest for 6th Grade Math

 

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Home

Introduction

Houses are used for many purposes depending on who lives in the house, where a person lives, and what a person's needs are. Each house has the potential to be very unique. This is your chance to explore what makes a house a "dream house".

The Task

You have been hired by a large architecture firm to design a dream house for one of their biggest clients. Your team's job is to find out what your clients needs are, design a house, build a scale model from your design, and then "pitch" this design to your client. You have $300,000 in order to build this house.

* Design a house according to your clients needs.

* Make a scale model of your design

* Write a report summarizing your findings and process.

* Make a math map of all the math skills you used for this project.

* Present your design and model to the class and the client.

The Process

To accomplish this project, there are a number of steps you need to take. Do not forget to reflect on what you are doing and write down any questions you may have along with what math skills you used for each section in your journal.

1. You will be grouped with 3 other students who will be part of your design team. Each person will keep a journal for their reflections, calculations and initial ideas. The group will keep one folder where every piece of information that is final will be kept. You will also keep your reference sheets here.
2. Your team will write at least 10 questions that you will ask your client in order to find out what your clients needs are. Remember, the more detailed the questions, the better you will be able to serve your client's needs.
3. Make an appointment to interview your client. You may not skip a class in order to interview this person!
4. Interview your client and write a summary of your client's needs. Make it detailed. This will help you design your house. This summary will go in your team's folder.
5. Find a site. Think about your clients needs when deciding on where to build your house. Write a summary about why this site is ideal.
6. Make a budget. Do not exceed $300, 000. Use Architech to help you figure out your costs.
7. Design your dream house with Architech. Do not forget that you are only allowed to spend $300,000.
8. Make a scale model of your house.
9. Write a report on your findings. This should include your clients needs summary, the site summary, the budget, and how your design fulfills the clients needs. This is a final report. Make sure it is neat.
10. Make a math map of all the math skills you used and when you used it.
11. Present your project to the class and your client. Remember, this is your sales pitch. You need to convince your client to buy your design.

Evaluation

You will be graded as a group for this project. The point scale is as follows:

• List of questions to ask your client: 5 pts.
• Summary of client's needs: 5 pts.
• Site worksheet: 5 pts.
• Budget sheet: 5 pts.
• rough draft of floor plan and revision sheet: 10 pts.
• Floor plan: 15 pts.
• Scale model: 15 pts.
• Math map: 10 pts.
• Final report: 20 pts.
• Presentation: 10 pts.

There will also be a few assignments, including your journal, where you will be graded on individually. In addition to this, you will grade your teammates on their participation and contributions to this project.

Conclusion

When you finish this project, you will know how to conduct an information finding interview, design a house in Architech, and build a scale model. You will also be able to answer the question "What makes a house a 'dream house'?"

Credits

This project is part of the LINKS project, San Francisco for integrating technology into math.

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Last updated on November 20, 1999. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page