The Geometry and Art of Architecture

Project for Pre-AP Geometry Classes

1) LIST famous buildings or structures you and your partner know. Decide if you would like to explore any of these examples of geometry.

2) CONSIDER choosing a building or structure that is part of a topic that interests you. For example, if you like medieval history, you might select a castle to study.

3) REVIEW the list of buildings and structures and select a first and second choice, or select something not on the list prior to approval. We will draw names in class to determine who chooses first. Only one group per class may choose a particular building or structure.

4) IT IS IMPORTANT that you choose something that will provide examples of higher level geometric properties as well as lower level. Be thoughtful; use your book to look ahead for higher level properties, and think back to properties learned in prior years.

5) DIVIDE TASKS. While you and your partner may work together to identify examples of geometry, one person may draw the poster and the other student may write the report. Both students may color and label the poster. Bonus points for building the structure must be shared equally.

6) RESEARCH your building or structure to find a picture by using the Internet and books.

7) EXAMINE your building or structure and try to find as many examples of geometry as possible. Look for the following:

Types of angles; regular and other polygons and their properties; circles and their properties; three-dimensional shapes and their properties; lines, segments, planes and their properties; symmetry, including reflection, rotation, translation, and combinations. Remember, you are in a Pre-AP class and higher level concepts are expected to be included with basic geometry. Study your building or structure -- the examples ARE there.

8) DRAW your building or structure on standard-size poster board. Title and neatly label the geometry vocabulary. Your drawing MUST be poster size.

9) WRITE the report. The history of the most important facts and the summary of the geometry it represents should be separate paragraphs. Be specific and stay on topic; rambling off topic will result in grade reduction. Type on one side only, double-space, use up to two pages only, and tape the report to the back of the poster. Include the following:

Who designed the building or structure?
What are its dimensions?
Where is it located?
When was it constructed?
Why was it constructed?
Is it used today? If yes, how?

10) TURN IN your finished poster and report.

11) PRESENT your project to the class.