middle school report grade 7 mathboard at eth

Grade 7 mathematics at ETH

• In the third quarter grade 7 students studied the topic of measurement. This includes, ratio, scale drawing, 2D and 3D drawings, measurements of area and volume.

• We went to the ETH department of architecture for a day and they showed us how these topics were applied to their work.

Grade 7 math at the ETH

The Dean, Dr Angelil spoke to the students about the types of assignments given to the students in their program. The first is to create a model of the space between two bodies doing the tango

Why can math people rarely dance?

• The architects need to be…

• Creative

• Produce from feelings, the gut

• Accurate

• Inventive

• Concerned with asthetics

• Concerned with structure

At school we used isometric paper and Google sketch up to do 2D and 3D shapes like these.

Building stable structures

• Students had to look at length to height ratios to build stable structures. They had to consider building a stable tower with the blocks. They tested stability by tilting the platform on which the structure was built to see who could achieve the greatest angle before the tower would topple.

Students felt different materials used to make models

Students at ETH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr8LjHVjN9E

Working in teams the students had to make a hammock out of string that would support a team member. They had to consider vector forces and sag in the design.

Project for school

• Back at school students were given 2 pieces of A4 card and had to design a box that would store the maximum capacity.

• They had to calculate the volume of the box, then check it by pouring sand into the box.

• They had to make a presentation to the class explaining why their design was the best choice.

• They had to draw the different views of their box

Marenne’s box

Isometric view Front view Back view

Plan view Right view Left view

Math in the real world

• This project was done to establish meaning of measure in the real world. The children learned from experts in the field and made real world connections between what they did in school and what people do in their jobs.

• AM MacLean