INTEGRATED SCIENCE, MATH AND TECHNOLOGY ACTIVITIES:

The following is an example of an integrated activity to show the possible SMT connections to the above challenges.

Using the following equation, calculate the height of the dome at different scales (full size, half size. quarter size, 1/8th, etc. Calculate proportions for each of the activities, whether small or large scale.

Height of Dome = 1/3 length of a triangle?s side x 5

example:     Height dome 1/3            (130 cm) x 5

Height dome = 216.70 cm

The dome of the size in the above example equation will accommodate six to eight students, plus the Star \machine. Smaller icosahedrons may be constructed for other applications.

Method of constructing an Equilateral Triangle:

 Begin with selected Base Line AB (Note that AB is the length of a triangle?s side in the above equation)

Place compass point on A and the pencil point on B; draw a vertical arc.

Place compass point on B and the pencil point on A; draw a second vertical arc.

The point where the two arcs intersect is point C or the third corner of the Equilateral Triangle.

Connect points A to C and B to C.

PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESS:

These steps may be helpful to students in approaching their activity:

• Form cooperative groups (2 to 3 people)
• Brainstorm for ideas
• Sketch possible solutions
• Decide how to build and finish the project
• Decide on and gather materials
• Construct your design
• Test your design
• Present your design

RESOURCES:

The intended challenges were designed to be open-ended and flexible to accommodate a wide range of learning levels. Please feel free to incorporate additional material(s) to enhance each lesson. The categories of Exploratory, Intermediate, and Advanced provide a context in which students can understand the social and personal meaning of each challenge.  Creative anticipatory sets may be included to introduce each challenge.

Additional materials may be found at the following locations:

• "Building: From Caves to Skyscrapers" Salvadori, M: McGraw Hill Book Company
• "Why Buildings Stand Up" Salvadori, M: Athenium
• "Habitats Tomorrow" Cornish, E. World Future Society
• TIES Magazine, http://www.tiesmagazine.org
• "Star Domes in the Making," Science Scope, September 1994.

PROPOSED CURRICULUM STANDARDS CONNECTIONS:

The following Curriculum/Standards Connections for grades 5-8 are intended to aid in the use and assessment of the design challenge projects.  NOTE: These connections have been extracted from the National Standards.  You should check their correlation with your own State Curriculum Standards to ensure consistency with your curriculum goals.

Note on Assessment:  We strongly recommend using the Student Reflection Sheet and the Rubric provided in the Appendix to enhance the learning process, by encouraging student awareness and participation in the assessment of their work.  These tools can help students to understand the context, meaning, and value of undertaking these challenges.