Sky High

Gladys Allen                   Louis Wirth Experimental School
                               4959 South Blackstone Ave
                               Chicago IL 60615
                               (312)535-1410

Objectives:

This lesson is appropriate for students in middle and junior high.
The students will be able to work cooperatively in small groups.
The students will be able to convert centimeters to millimeters, meters to 
centimeters, meters to millimeters.
The students will be able to graph the width and the height of their tower.
The students will be able to tell the teacher if there is a mathematical 
relationship between the height and the width of the base.

Materials Needed:

Straw   
Paper Clips
Meter Sticks
Graph Paper
Worksheet of instructions

Strategy:

Give each small group a minimum of 30 straws and a box of regular size paper 
clips.
Using the materials they are to construct a structure in fifteen minutes.
Measure the height of all the structures in millimeters, that are standing       
without assistance.
Convert measurements to centimeters and meters.
Measure the width of the base at its widest point in millimeters.
Convert measurements to centimeters and meters.
Enter data on graph provided by the teacher.
After observing the data make a judgement if there is a relationship between
the width of the base and the height obtained.

Performance Assessment: 

HANDS ON PERFORMANCE-ASSESSMENT FOR STRUCTURES 

Points
5  points EXCELLENT - Works cooperatively in small group; Measures accurately;
                      Completes conversion tables; Contributes to class graph;
                      Answers questions and draws a logical conclusion.
4  points VERY GOOD - 4 out of 5 items previously stated.
3  points FAIR      - 3 out of 5 items previously stated.
2  points POOR      - 2 out of 5 items previously stated.


Conclusion:

This activity is best used with students who have been introduced to the metric 
conversions.  It also incorporates many subject areas that lend themselves to 
math.  This is a good introduction to advanced areas of study such as physics 
and architecture.