WV State Standards: Math: M.O.G.3.16  Science: SC.9.1.2, SC.9.1.4, SC.9.2.2, SC.9.2.3, SC.9.2.6, SC.9.2.7, SC.9.4.39, SC.9.5.3, SC.9.5.4, SC.9.6.5, SC.10.1.2, SC.10.1.4, SC.10.2.2, SC.10.2.3, SC.10.2.6, SC.10.2.7, SC.10.5.2, SC.10.5.3, SC.10.6.5 Technology: National Standards:  Math: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Science: 11, 12, 13 Technology: Blooms Taxonomy: Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation  21st Century Skills: Interpersonal and Collaborative, Information and Media Literacy, Creativity and Intellectual Curiosity, Thinking and Problem-Solving, Problem Identification, Formulation, and Solution

Objective(s)

The main goal of this activity is to use estimation, volume, area, and linear measurement, basic math, algebra, and topographic maps to determine the cost and amount of time required to excavate a construction site for the preparation of an athletic field or court.  This activity allows students to apply basic mathematics and organizational skills to a real world scenario.  This activity also allows students to understand the importance of mathematics in real world professions, such as, in this case, a construction contractor or civil engineer.

Time Required

Two 50-minute class periods

Pre-Requisite Skills

Basic arithmetic and algebraic knowledge.  Basic mathematics knowledge of volume, area, and linear measurement.  Basic topographical map reading skills

Excel, Word, Digital Camera, Internet, calculators

Student Activity Directions:  Student Information Guide
Finding the Dimensions of Your Athletic Facility:  Dimensions Worksheet
Elevation Profile Guide:  Elevation Profile Guide
Finding the Volume of Soil to be Moved:  Volume Worksheet
Excel Student Worksheet:  Construction Costs
Topographical Site Map:  Site Map
Athletic Facilities Location Map:  Athletic Facilities Location Map
Construction Guide: Construction Guide

1. Hand out or have students open Student Information Guide. Students should skim this document as a preview of this activity.
2. Use the  Dimensions Worksheet and the Internet to plan a rectangular region to be leveled for your assigned facility. Use proportions to scale the actual dimensions of your facility to dimensions that will fit on the site map from Topozone.  Cut out a rectangle to the scaled size and trace it in the desired location on the paper site map. If your region is not rectangular, fit a rectangle around the region for the leveling task. See the Athletic Facilities Location Map for facility locations. Using a digital camera, take a picture of your facility plan to use in your final presentation.
3. Use the Elevation Profile Guide and the Site Map to create an elevation profile of the construction site.
4. In order to level out the construction site the students must calculate the volume of soil to be moved. Follow the Volume Worksheet for finding the volume of soil to be moved. Negotiate with the other groups to conserve as much soil as possible.
5. Use the volumes of soil calculated with the Excel spreadsheets (Construction Costs ) to calculate cost of the project. Each group will calculate their specific costs; the various groups will enter data on a class spreadsheet to find total cost. Each group must decide if the original cost estimate for the project is reasonable. Students will be including their portion of the spreadsheet in their final presentation, so make sure it is saved.
6. Students should be prepared to summarize all steps in this lesson for the final presentation.

For some students, an advanced organizer may be used to connect past knowledge to the new lesson, this would include formulas for perimeter, area of a rectangle and volume of a cube.  A wall chart, board organizer or an online organizer listing the individual activities, different resources, and student worksheets may help some students stay on track.  More advanced students may be challenged to consider additional specifications and constraints needed for additional construction projects.  Students with reading disabilities or ESL students could use a computer with automated voice reading that will read out loud each instructional Word document.  Calculators will be provided for students to double check their math calculations.

This lesson allows students to apply their knowledge of volume, area, and linear measurement to a civil engineering task.  The students will also utilize business and economic skills to determine the most time efficient and cost effective methods for completing a excavating construction job.  The students will use topographical maps to create elevation profiles of their construction site in order to determine the volume of soil to be removed or placed into their construction site which incorporates science and map reading with mathematics.  Peer collaboration is necessary to effectively implement this activity, since each student group must collaborate with the other groups in the class to reach a common goal.

The construction and excavating prices and work capacity are estimated current market values.  Times and prices may vary depending on the degree of difficulty of each individual construction site.  For example, an extremely rocky site may require more excavation time or additional excavation machinery, or an extremely wet site may require extra fill dirt or additional drainage systems.

The first form of assessment for this lesson is the Elevation Profile Guide activity.  This activity addresses the students' abilities to read topographical maps.  The next informal assessment is finding the volume of soil to be moved. The completed Construction Cost spreadsheet will also be evaluated. Successful collaboration between individual group members and between the various groups will be observed and assessed on the final rubric.