Making a Scale Model of Washington's National Mall
Grade Level(s): 3-5
Subject(s): Math, Social Studies, Language Arts, Art
Learner Outcomes:
The student will be able to:
1. Round to the nearest hundred for a given size
2. Identify the scale on a map key
3. Given a map scale, compute the actual distance
4. Given the actual height of a monument, give the
scaled size
5. Able to use reference sources, including the internet,
to collect and use factual information
about
Washington landmarks in creating math word problems
6. Identify and use appropriate reference sources
for different types of information
7. Use scale correctly to create a model of a monument
to scale
8. Identify the historical significance of monuments
on the Washington Mall
9. Orally state and/or write a brief description
of one of the monuments on the Mall
Duration of Lesson: 4 –5 hours
Direction instruction
on rounding and map scale (45 – 60 minutes)
Demonstrate use of
web sites and worksheet to collect data (30 – 45 minutes)
Collect data on monument
from reference sources (60 minutes)
Construction of scale
model of monument (60 minutes)
Write and edit paragraph
about monument (60 minutes)
Materials:
Map of National
Mall (or Washington D.C.) with map scale on legend
Oaktag
Rulers
Technology Tools/Courseware:
Internet access to
collect factual information about monuments
List of links to web
sties of monuments and memorials
Software, Community
Construction Kit (Tom Snyder)
Software, Neighborhood
Map Machine (Tom Snyder)
Word processing software
Teacher Notes:
Collect a variety of materials that could be used in creating their
monuments and landscaping
around them.
Procedures:
Introductory Activity
1. Bring in a scale model of a car or airplane.
Lead a discussion with the group
about this model.
Is this the actual size? What is meant by “scale”?
2. Discuss why you cannot have models the actual
size. Give examples of places
or reasons that scale models
are used
3. Discuss jobs, such as architects and city
planners, that would use models
4. Describe class project of making a scale
model of the National Mall so that
students can visualize the
layout of tourist attractions in Washington D.C.
Direct Instruction - -Rounding Number to Nearest
Hundreds
1. Have the students count by 10 and list the
numbers on the board. Have the students give
you another number and then
tell which of the 10s it is closest to.
2. Repeat step 1 using 100s and 1000s.
3. Give each group of three students three dice.
Have each student roll one of the dice to get a three digit number.
Have students write down the number
and then write down the hundred that it is closest to.
Direct Instruction - Map Scale
1. Use a map in the textbook or on a
worksheet that has a scale on the legend
2. Display a map of the National Mall or Washington
D.C. that has a scale on the legend
3. Use a ruler to measure the distance from
the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol
4. Use the scale on the legend to convert that
scale distance to the actual distance
5. Have the students practice measuring the
scale distance between other monuments and
converting that to the actual
distance
Student Project Activity
1. Tell the class that they have been commissioned
to create a 3-D model of the National Mall
that all the classes in the school can use to learn more about Washington
D.C.
2. Demonstrate how to complete the Monument
Worksheet to collect information about a
monument and then using the actual dimensions to compute the scale size.
Modifications:
1. Pair slower students or students with special
students with a “study buddy”.
2. Assign more complex monuments to more capable
students.
3. Allow more capable students to round to
the nearest tenth and use fractional parts of an inch to make it more
challenging.
Enrichment Activities:
1. Do in-depth research on one of the monuments
2. Create a timeline showing the dates of the construction of the monuments
3. Consider why monuments are created? What criteria are used
to decide on building
a monument? Propose a person / topic for a
future monument to be built and design.
4. Hand draw or use Neighborhood Map Machine software to create a plan
of the National Mall to display
The scale models of the monuments and historic landmarks
5. Students can be encouraged to identify different architectural
types in the historical buildings and memorials
and encouraged to include these details in
their scale models.
6. Community Construction Kit software can be used to create
the 3-D models if desired.
Evaluation/Assessment:
1. On a worksheet or during the map scale activity, could the
student correctly round a three or four digit number to
the nearest hundred ? Could the student
independently complete the rounding column on the project worksheet?
2. Given a map of the National Mall that has a legend, could
the student identify the scale on a map key?
3. Given a map scale, could the student compute the actual distance?
4. Given the actual height of a monument, could the student give
the scaled size?
5. Could the student use scale correctly to create a model of
a monument to scale?
6. Could the student identify the historical significance of
specified monuments on the Washington Mall?
7. Could the student orally state and write a brief description
of one of the monuments on the Mall?
Use an appropriate teacher-created scoring rubric to evaluate their
scale model of a monument project
| Project Activity | Points Available | Student Score |
| Rounded measurements correctly | 10 | . |
| Used correct scale measurement | 10 | . |
| Included details on monuments | 20 | . |
| Provided historical significance | 20 | . |
| Monument complete and accurate | 30 | . |
| Correct Spelling and grammar | 10 | . |
West Virginia Instructional Goals and Objectives:
Math
– Number Theory and Number Sense 3.7, 4.4
Measurement 3.42, 4.41, 5.46
Language Arts
- Writing 4.50
Study Skills 3.74
Computer Technology 3.85, 4.95, 5.180
Social Studies -
Geography 3.29, 5.22
Study Skills 4.43
Computer Technology 4.53
References:
List of links to web sites with information about monuments
Lincoln Memorial
- Statistics
Vietnam Memorial - History and Statistics
Korean War Veterans Memorial - History
FDR Memorial - Facts, Statistics
Created by: Judy Werner, Cheat Lake Elementary School, Morgantown, WV
Date Created: March 12, 1999
Date Modified:
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