Effective Use of Living Space

William L. Brown               Parkside Community Academy
                               6938 South East End
                               Chgo., Il. 60649
                               (312)-535-0940 or 0941        
                
Objectives:

Students will be able to measure the area of a room.
Students will be able to measure various objects in this room.
Students will be able to place scale model furniture in a room and
  determine the area occupied.
Students will be able to calculate the percentage of space used.

Materials needed: 

Students will need a yardstick, scissors, glue, scrap paper, quad paper and 
  pencil. 

Strategy:

Students will use the yardstick and measure the length and width of the room, 
  table, teacher's desk and cabinets. 

Instructor will pass out sheets of paper containing shapes resembling living 
  room furniture that has been drawn to scale.  The students will place certain 
  pieces on the quad paper and measure the area occupied by the furniture. 

Students will determine the amount of the space used and compare it to the total 
  amount of space available and calculate percentage. 

Conclusions:

Students will find that they are able to place furniture in a room with the use 
  of scale model drawings. 

Students' understanding of length, width and area will be reinforced.

Students will find that the actual amount of space they can effectively use will 
  be less than fifty per cent.