Integrating Geometry and The Southwest:
The Natural, Cultural and Architectural Environment Around Us

Penny Fehringer

Implementing my curriculum the first year at a new school proved to be quite a challenge. I did get the students started on bubble diagrams of their rooms within the first week of school hoping to catch their attention and start the year off with the idea that this was going to be a more interesting class than usual. I don't know how successful that was for the students but the parents loved the idea when it was presented at Open House. Looking back I decided it gave them the idea there wasn't going to be a lot of homework in the class so I waited a few weeks to begin it this year. That seemed to make a difference. We were able to design a Southwest Fast Food Restaurant and build the Indian Village, write a report and build kivas out of clay. I was limited with supplies and demands upon my time so we never did finish the whole unit.

I applied for a Join-A-School grant to allow me to purchase supplies and take two classes of students on a field trip. Because of the grant we had scale rulers and cork-backed rulers to use for our drawings for the beginning of the year projects. This year I took the students to Casa San Ysidro in Corrales in October. That trip was very successful and really made a difference in the students' attitudes about the "different" work we were doing. The museum does provide free bus service for middle school students but not high school so I needed the grant to pay for the substitutes and bus fees. I have talked to them about adjusting their thinking to include high school students and did get the name of the Board president but have not had time to pursue that yet. I could not apply for the grant again as they don't provide funds for the same project two years in a row.

This semester we have created our Indian Village, studying perimeter, area and surface area, and just completed the building of the clay kivas. The rolling of the clay was much more effective this year using the frames I made out of popsicle sticks and the miniature rolling pins I now have for my classroom. We also had glue sticks and glue guns positioned around the room making the gluing process much smoother. We have yet to measure the circumference and area of the circular kivas and then use both the kivas and the Indian Village for the study of volume and three-dimensional solids.

I will also have the students use slides and drawings to trace Southwestern architecture in anticipation of their final project which is to create a Spanish Hacienda similar to Casa San Ysidro. This project will be completed outside of class. We will cover more this year than last but it takes so much time that I am not sure I can complete all of the curriculum every year.

I did present at the New Mexico State Math and Science conference last November and the participants actually built an Indian Village. I also had overhead projectors and

slides available for tracing. All seemed to enjoy the hands-on activities and I had many requests for my curriculum, including one just recently. I do think it is very appropriate for middle school students as well and think teachers at that level may have more time for implementation.

 Project: Southwest Restaurant

A wealthy Texas Businessman has hired you to design a Southwestern-style fast food restaurant. Include a kitchen, storage area, order/pick up area, a small office and restrooms. Your own design can include other ideas.

Requirements: * Bubble Diagram (with arrows)
                        *Floor Plan (1/2" scale)
                        * Front Elevation

Points: 50

Due: Work to be done outside of class with floor plan done in class as time permits.

Project due: -------------------

Southwest Restaurant Project

Points Earned: 50

 

Bubble Diagram:
Bubbles/Labels 4
Office 2
Kitchen 2
Restrooms 2
Storage Area 2
Arrows 3
Total 15
Floor Plan:
Neatness 3
Scale Drawing 3
Doors 3
Walls/Windows 3
Office 2
Kitchen 2
Storage Area 2
Restrooms 2
Total
Front Elevation:
Creativity 5
SW Design 5
Name 5
Total 15

Field Trip to CASA SAN YSIDRO

Write a paper describing the History of CASA SAN YSIDRO as explained by the docent. Be sure to include something you found interesting. Detail the architectural plan of the house and include a floor plan drawing using a ruler, indicating doors, fireplaces and other structural formations.

Points: 20

Due:

Those not attending the field trip will be required to do this same assignment but you will need to research a Spanish Hacienda through the library or Internet. Be sure to list your source of information.

Indian Village Project

Report 20 points
Adobe Hut 10 points
Village Measurements 20 points
Total 50 points

Due ----------

Indian Village Report

  • Typed or neatly written
  • One or two pages

    Include:

  • What is a pueblo
  • Materials and tools used in construction
  • Division of labor in construction
  • Ceremonies involved in construction
  • Maintenance and upkeep
  • Hatchways / Doors / Windows / Ladders
  • Kivas
  • village design

Indian Village Measurements
Show All Work!

Assgn #

Names

 Perimeter of Village:

* Area of Village:

* Perimeter of Clan House(s):

* Surface Area of Clan House(s):