Those who design structures use mathematics to create beautiful structures. These structures can be beautiful in their appearance, based on their suitability for the environment, and/or beautiful because of their functionality. Mathematics is needed for each of these!
How can we possibly turn power pylons into something beautiful?
Students re-imagine power pylons as beautiful in terms of:
- Design
- Colour
- Purpose (how could we manage without them?)
Introductory PowerPoint
| Assignment Files |
|---|
| Download Assignment document: Assignment |
| Classifying quadrilaterals-formative task to do prior to assignment: Download task |
| Show students the shapes in power pylons: Download PowerPoint |
| Evaluate work samples with students (all different standards): Download PowerPoint |
| Watch The Castle segments (first 1:30 seconds; 24:25-25:00) for context: Download PDF |
| Teacher suggested solutions to the first 2 sections: Download solutions |
| Decorate the workspace with the beautiful power pylons to enrich the space for everyone. Students love to look at each other’s work. |
- Why are there so many angles and shapes built into a power pylon?
- What needs to be considered by the people who design power pylons?
- Explain how your power pylon is beautiful.
- Where did people get their ability to create beautiful things?
- The Bible tells us we are ‘created in God’s image’ (Genesis 1:27). What do you think this means in the context of this assignment?
God is a creative God (Gen. 1:1)
God created man in His own image (Gen. 1:27)