Building Background
The Vocabulary of Architecture & Geometry
The purpose of this activity is to introduce students to some of the vocabulary that is used in geometry and in architecture.
1. Tell the students that they are going to conduct an Internet scavenger hunt to find the meaning of geometry and architectural terms. Give the class twenty minutes to complete this exercise. The goal of the exercise is not to learn all these terms, but to begin to explore the wide range of terms that intersect across the fields of architecture and mathematics. You may wish to have students complete the assignment as homework.
Teacher Note: You can modify the vocabulary words to meet your instructional needs.
The definitions for the architecture vocabulary may be found at https://www.bcsd.k12.ny.us/middle/michalek/Frontpage Albany 2002A/architecture_vocabulary.htm.
The definitions for the geometry vocabulary may be found at https://math.youngzones.org/geometry_vocabulary.html.
Steps for Learning
Activity One: Media View: A Classroom Story
The purpose of this activity is to introduce students to a classroom application of geometry and architecture.
1. As a class, view the brief video entitled “Geometry in the Real World: Students as Architects.”
Visit the website at https://www.edutopia.org/, click on “Video Library” on the sidebar, and scroll to the title “Geometry in the Real World: Students as Architects.”
Teacher Note: The video is approximately ten minutes long.
2. Discuss students’ reactions to the film. Use the following questions as guidelines:
• What did you learn about geometry from the video?
• What did you learn about architecture from the video?
• How are geometry and architecture related?
Activity Two: Thinking and Connecting
The purpose of this activity is for students to reflect on the connections between disciplines.
1. Ask your students to respond in journals to the following prompts:
• What are the connections between mathematics and other sciences?
• What role does imagination play in mathematics?
• What role does imagination play in architecture?
• What role does creativity play in architecture?
• What role does creativity play in mathematics?
• How are words used in similar ways in architecture and mathematics?
• What are the connections between architecture and mathematics?
• What math idea needs to be used in creating a scale model?
• What math idea needs to be used in perspective drawing?
• What math idea needs to be used in creating a floor plan?
• What math idea needs to be used in developing cost estimates?
2. Ask students to share their responses. Lead a class discussion on the connections between mathematics and architecture.