Garden Geometry: Design & Calculate Sectional Areas
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Garden Geometry: Design & Calculate Sectional Areas

Grade 7Math5 days
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In the 'Garden Geometry: Design & Calculate Sectional Areas' project, 7th-grade students will explore geometric principles by designing garden layouts that balance functionality and aesthetics. Through activities that include researching geometric shapes, sketching scalable garden designs, and calculating area and perimeter, students will apply their math skills in a real-world context. The project fosters practical math skills, creativity, and collaboration, culminating in a detailed garden layout and a deeper understanding of geometry's application in landscape design.
GeometryGarden DesignArea CalculationPerimeter CalculationScale DrawingsReal-world Applications
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can geometric principles be effectively applied in designing a garden layout, balancing functionality, aesthetics, and accurate measurements of area and perimeter for various sections including vegetable gardens, flower beds, and pathways, while fostering practical math skills in students?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • How do different types of geometric shapes contribute to both the visual appeal and functionalities within garden sections?
  • What strategies can be employed to determine the area and perimeter of complex and irregular shapes found in garden settings?
  • In what way do the requirements of different garden sections, like vegetable patches or pathways, dictate the geometric considerations in their design?
  • What is the significance of integrating concepts of area and perimeter in the planning stages of a garden layout for practical and aesthetic purposes?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will be able to design a garden layout using geometric shapes and calculate the area and perimeter for each section.
  • Students will understand how to apply geometric principles to solve real-world problems, such as garden planning.
  • Students will demonstrate proficiency in calculating area and perimeter for irregular shapes by breaking them down into familiar geometric figures.
  • Students will develop an appreciation for the aesthetic and functional role of geometry in landscape design.

Common Core Standards for Mathematics

7.G.B.6
Primary
Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving area, volume and surface area of two- and three-dimensional objects composed of triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons, cubes, and right prisms.Reason: Students will design garden sections using geometric shapes, requiring them to solve problems related to the area and perimeter of these sections.
7.G.A.1
Secondary
Solve problems involving scale drawings of geometric figures, including computing actual lengths and areas from a scale drawing and reproducing a scale drawing at a different scale.Reason: Scale drawings will be used to design the garden layout, necessitating an understanding of scale and its impact on area and perimeter calculations.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Garden Geometry Game Show

Kick-off with a high-energy game show where students compete to solve geometric puzzles and earn points for their future garden designs. The game show format hooks students by integrating learning with play, simultaneously introducing geometry concepts and fostering a fun, collaborative learning environment.

Community Garden Challenge

Challenge students to design a section of a community garden, with the best proposal winning implementation. This task requires applying math concepts to create practical, sustainable designs, blending creativity with civic engagement while promoting a competitive spirit and teamwork among students.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Shape Selection and Classification

Students start by exploring various geometric shapes that could be used in garden design. This activity aims to familiarize them with basic shapes and their properties, serving as the foundation for designing garden sections.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research various geometric shapes and their properties.
2. List down characteristics of each shape including sides, angles, and symmetry.
3. Discuss how each shape could serve a functional or aesthetic purpose in a garden.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA chart or scrapbook showcasing various geometric shapes with annotations on their potential uses in garden design.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsLinks to 7.G.B.6 covering basic understanding of geometric shapes.
Activity 2

Garden Design Studio: Layout Draft

In this activity, students will begin sketching an initial draft of their garden using sketch paper, applying their understanding of geometry and scale.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Sketch a layout of a garden on graph paper, using at least three different types of geometric shapes for sections.
2. Ensure each section represents a real-world component such as a vegetable patch, a flower bed, or a pathway.
3. Discuss and select appropriate scales to accurately represent the garden.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed, scaled draft layout of a garden using different geometric shapes.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with 7.G.A.1, focusing on scale drawings and layout planning.
Activity 3

Precision Plotting: Area and Perimeter Calculations

Students will calculate the area and perimeter for each section of their garden layout. This activity reinforces their mathematical skills and ensures practical design considerations are met.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Identify each section of your garden layout and label its geometric shape.
2. Calculate the area and perimeter for each section using appropriate formulas for the respective shapes.
3. Review calculations for possible design adjustments.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA worksheet detailing the area and perimeter calculations for each section of the garden layout.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCovers 7.G.B.6, focusing on solving real-world mathematical problems.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Garden Geometry Mastery Rubric

Category 1

Geometric Understanding

Assesses understanding of geometric shapes and their properties in the context of garden design.
Criterion 1

Shape Identification and Properties

Evaluates ability to identify and understand geometric shapes, including their properties such as sides, angles, and symmetry.

Exemplary
4 Points

Accurately identifies and describes an extensive range of geometric shapes with detailed understanding of their properties and potential applications in garden design.

Proficient
3 Points

Identifies and describes a variety of geometric shapes with clear understanding of their fundamental properties and applications.

Developing
2 Points

Identifies several geometric shapes but shows limited understanding of their properties and applications.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to identify basic geometric shapes and lacks understanding of their properties.

Criterion 2

Geometric Application in Design

Measures ability to apply geometric concepts to design garden sections with both functionality and aesthetic appeal.

Exemplary
4 Points

Applies geometric concepts innovatively to design complex and functional garden sections, demonstrating sophisticated understanding of aesthetics and utility.

Proficient
3 Points

Effectively applies geometric concepts to design functional and visually appealing garden sections.

Developing
2 Points

Applies basic geometric concepts to garden design but with inconsistencies in functionality or appeal.

Beginning
1 Points

Shows difficulty in applying geometric concepts to garden design, resulting in simplistic or flawed layouts.

Category 2

Mathematical Calculations

Evaluates proficiency in calculating area and perimeter of garden sections, ensuring design accuracy and feasibility.
Criterion 1

Area and Perimeter Computation

Assesses accuracy and proficiency in calculating area and perimeter using appropriate formulas for various geometric shapes.

Exemplary
4 Points

Calculates area and perimeter accurately and efficiently for all garden sections, including complex shapes, using the correct formulas and demonstrating superior precision.

Proficient
3 Points

Accurately calculates area and perimeter for most garden sections using appropriate formulas, demonstrating proficiency.

Developing
2 Points

Calculates area and perimeter correctly for simple shapes but makes errors with complex or irregular shapes.

Beginning
1 Points

Frequently makes errors in calculating area and perimeter, showing limited understanding of required formulas.

Category 3

Design Execution and Presentation

Assesses the final presentation and execution of the garden layout, evaluating clarity, accuracy, and visual appeal.
Criterion 1

Layout Clarity and Precision

Measures the clarity and precision of the presented garden layout, including accuracy of scale and detail in sketches.

Exemplary
4 Points

Presents a highly detailed and precise garden layout with exceptional clarity and accurate use of scale, exhibiting professional-level execution.

Proficient
3 Points

Presents a clear and precise garden layout with accurate scale and detail.

Developing
2 Points

Layout shows some clarity and precision but contains noticeable errors or lacks detail.

Beginning
1 Points

Presentation of layout lacks clarity and precision, with major errors in scale and detail.

Criterion 2

Creativity and Aesthetics

Evaluates the integration of creativity and aesthetic consideration in the garden design.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates exceptional creativity and aesthetic consideration, producing a unique and well-balanced garden design.

Proficient
3 Points

Shows creativity and aesthetic consideration, resulting in a visually pleasing and well-structured design.

Developing
2 Points

Design reflects minimal creativity or aesthetic integration, leading to a basic or unbalanced appearance.

Beginning
1 Points

Lacks creativity and aesthetic consideration, resulting in a poorly structured and unappealing design.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

How did designing a garden layout using geometric shapes change your understanding of geometry in real-world applications?

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Question 2

Which geometric shape or section was the most challenging for you to calculate in terms of area and perimeter, and why?

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Optional
Question 3

On a scale from 1 to 5, how confident do you feel about using geometry to solve real-world problems after completing this project?

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Required
Question 4

Which aspect of the Garden Geometry project did you find the most rewarding or enjoyable, and what made it so?

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Question 5

What strategies can you use to integrate geometric concepts into other real-world scenarios beyond garden design?

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