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Activity |
1.
Constructing a house requires mathematics skills. Study the blueprint
of the house and determine the surface area of the walls. (minus doors
and windows) Why might a builder of a house need to know the surface
area of the walls?
Guide:
To
find the surface area of the inside of Henry’s cabin, multiply
the length times the width of each wall and add the area of each wall
together to get the total surface area. The formula for finding the
surface area is:
2*(length*width+length*height+width*height)
Henry was a frugal gentleman and he would not want to purchase more
than he needed of anything. Knowing the surface area of walls will assist
in knowing how much paint, plaster, etc. is required in completing the
inside of the house. Since Henry shingled the outside of his house he
would only want to purchase what he needed. Finding the surface area
would assist with this goal.
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Activity |
2.
Now determine the volume of he house. Why would a builder of a house
today need to know the volume of house? Do you think that Henry took
these considerations in mind when deciding the plan for his house? What
quote of Henry David Thoreau supports your response?
Guide:
To
determine the volume of Henry’s house follow the formula:
V=length*width*height
Knowing
the volume of a house will assist in realizing the heating needs of
the home, (how many BTU’s , etc.) Henry heated his home with a
small wood burning stove that was constructed after he moved into his
cabin.
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Activity |
3.
Create the cabin using 1/10 of the scale. Be sure that you keep everything
proportional. Henry’s cabin had how many square feet? How large
were his windows?
Guide:
Using
graph paper, take 1/10 of the measurements on the blueprint and create
your own small Walden cabin.
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Activity |
4.
Now create the furniture to the 1/10 scale. Create the furniture and
arrange the furniture the way that Henry arranged his in the cabin.
Guide:
Use
paper, card stock, or balsa wood to create furniture to fit into Henry’s
cabin.
