P R O J E C T D E S I G N : O V E R V I E W page 1

Name of Project: I can be an Architect! Duration: 3 classes

Subject/Course: 6th Grade Math Teacher(s): Journigan Grade Level: 6th
Other subject areas to be included, if any: n/a

Key Knowledge and SOL 6.8.a: the student will identify the components of the coordinate plane
Understanding SOL 6.8.b: the student will identify the coordinates of a point and graph ordered pairs in a coordinate plane
(CCSS or other standards) The student will also be able to interpret a coordinate plane and realize that they can be used in the real-world.
The students will also review perimeter and area.
Success Skills Critical Thinking/Problem Solving: Students will have Self-Management: Students will have to contribute to
(to be taught and to decide how to design a home with a given lot size. their group and fill out their own copy of the work.
assessed) Collaboration: Students will discuss realistic dimensions Other: Students will have the opportunity exercise their
for a home and the rooms found inside. creativity.
Project Summary In this project, the students will be put into groups and given different lot sizes to design a house blueprint on. (If the lot size is
(include student role, small, the house may require two floors.) The groups will discuss what rooms they want in their house and what the size should
issue, problem or be for each one. Each group member will sketch the groups blueprint on a coordinate plane. Then, they will fill out a provided
challenge, action taken, chart that includes the coordinate pairs used for the rooms, the quadrant that the pairs are located in, the perimeter of each room,
and purpose/beneficiary) and the area of each room. Finally, using poster board and popsicle sticks, each group will then make a large model to present to
the class.
Driving Question How can we use a coordinate plane to design a house?

Entry Event Prior to the project, there will be a lesson on the coordinate plane and an explanation of what a blueprint is.
The students will receive homework prior to the project where they must find the dimensions to at least three rooms in
their house.
Products Individual: Specific content and competencies to be assessed:
Each student should have their own copy of the blueprint Each student will receive a grade based on the accuracy of
sketch and a filled-out chart of the information. their chart.

Team: Specific content and competencies to be assessed:

Each team should have one large model to present. Each group will receive a grade based on the accuracy of
their large model compared to their sketch. The proportions
should remain the same.

P R O J E C T D E S I G N : O V E R V I E W page 2

For more PBL resources visit bie.org © 2 0 1 5 B U C K I N S T I T U T E F O R E D U C AT I O N

Making Products Public
(include how the
products will be made
public and who students
will engage with
during/at end of project)
Resources Needed
Reflection Methods
(how individual, team,
and/or whole class will
reflect during/at end of
project)
PR OJECT
Project: I can be an Architect!
For more PBL resources visit bie.org
Students will collaborate to come up with their design and work together to create a large model of their design. When the
large models are complete, the groups will present them. The groups will discuss their thoughts from when they were
designing their house and explain how they were able to fit their blueprint on the first handout. For example if each line
represents 1 foot and the plane only goes from -10 to 10, a particular house may not fit, so students may have to assign 5
feet to every line.
On-site people, facilities: teacher
Equipment: n/a (However, there may be an online software that could handle this project as a replacement for the large
models.)
Materials: poster-board, popsicle sticks, markers
Community Resources: n/a
Whole-Class Discussion: After seeing what the other groups did, is there
What were some challenges when designing your anything that you would change to your house?
house? Would you be able to create a blueprint of your home?
What do you need to know in order to create a large Who thinks that this could be a fun career?
model?
Survey: n/a Other: n/a
DESIGN: STUDENT LE AR NING GUIDE
© 2 0 1 5 B U C K I N S T I T U T E F O R E D U C AT I O N
Driving Question: How can we use a coordinate plane to design a house?

Final Product(s) Each student will complete a sketch of their Each group will create a large model of Each group will present their model along
Presentations, blueprint and fill out a chart of requested their blueprint. with their responses to given prompts.
Performances, Products information.
and/or Services
Learning Student will be able to identify the Students will be able to identify the Students will be able to interpret a
Outcomes/Targets components of the coordinate plane. coordinates of a point and graph ordered coordinate plane and realize that they can
knowledge, pairs in a coordinate plane. be used in the real-world.
understanding & success
skills needed
by students to
successfully complete Students will review perimeter and area Students will work together to reach a Every student is expected to contribute to
products of rectangles. common goal. their group.

For more PBL resources visit bie.org © 2 0 1 5 B U C K I N S T I T U T E F O R E D U C AT I O N