Building is for the Birds

Student learning objectives:

Students will learn the formula for finding the surface area of triangles and rectangles.
Students will apply their multiplication skills to determine the surface area of triangles and rectangles.
Students will use their addition skills to determine the surface area of complex shapes.
Students will use metric measurements to determine the length of real objects.
Students will follow written instructions.
Students will use critical thinking skills to analyze and solve complex word problems.
My personal objective:
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Necessary information:
Formula for finding the surface area of a square or rectangle = Length times width.
Width is generally considered to be the distance from the right side to the left side.
Length is generally considered to be the distance from the top to the bottom.

Task 1-
Divide the box above into three equal horizontal sections.
Next, divide the box above into 7 equal vertical sections.
The result should look like grid paper.
Count the total number of boxes.
How many boxes did you count? _________________________________
You should have counted 21 equal sized boxes. This is why we change the label from centimeters to square
centimeters.
What is the formula that you should use if you want to find the surface area of a square or rectangle?
________________________________________________________________________________
Necessary information cont.
The formula for finding the surface area of a triangle is base times height divided by 2. You may have also seen it
written as
1 x base x height.
2

Any side of the triangle can be a base. All that matters is that the base and the height must be
perpendicular. Any side can be a base, but every base has only one height.

The height is the line from the opposite vertex and perpendicular to the base.

Task 2: Label a base and then draw a line that represents the height.
Remember the height must be perpendicular to the base and must terminate exactly in the middle of the
vertex (point) across from the base.

What degree of angle is formed when the base and the line you drew to label the height intersect? _______________
Use a ruler to measure and then complete the chart below: (remember: the formula for finding the area of a triangle is
base x height 2

CHART 1 Length of base in mm Length of height in mm Total area in mm.

Triangle 1

Triangle 2

Triangle 3
Now put your skills to work. You will need:
A birdhouse template pre-printed onto heavyweight cardstock.
Scissors
Metric ruler
Precision

Step one: Cut out your birdhouse template very carefully!

Step two: Fold the tabs on the left and right wings along the dotted lines and wrap them under.
Step three: Measure the lengths and widths of rectangles 1, 2, 3, and 4 in centimeters. (You can round to the nearest
half centimeter.)
Step four: Record the information in the chart below.
CHART 2. Length/height in cm Width/base in cm Area in cm squared

Rectangle 1

Rectangle 2

Rectangle 3

Rectangle 4

Rectangle 5

Rectangle 6

Triangle 1

Triangle 2

Step five: Use the straight edge of the ruler to separate pentagons 5 and 6 into a triangle and a rectangle. See
example below:

Step six: Label the newly created rectangles 5 and 6, respectively. Label the triangles 1 and 2, respectively. Measure
the length and width of rectangles 5 and 6, and record the information in the chart above.
Step seven: Identify and then measure the base and height of each triangle. Add the new information to the chart
above. Remember to use the formula for finding the area of a triangle.
Step eight: Cut out the circular door. Fold your shape along the dotted lines, use tape to hold the sides in place (you
may need a partner for this). Attach the roof.
Step nine: Admire your birdhouse and then answer the following questions.

Solve these word problems:

1. Describe (in a complete sentence) how you can use the information in CHART 2 to determine the total surface area
of the birdhouse.

2. What should you do to account for the circular door that you cut out of the birdhouse? (Use complete sentences)

The surface area of the circle you cut out is approximately 3 cm2 .

3. What is the surface area of the entire bird house?

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4. If I wanted to cover this birdhouse in goldleaf how much would it cost? One sheet of 9cm x 9cm gold leaf cost 3
dollars. You cannot buy partial sheets.
_____________________________________________________________

5. How many sheets will you need to

purchase?_________________________________________________________

6. If I wanted to cover the bird house in tiny tiles which measure 1 cm x 1 cm, how many tiles would I need?
2 2
________

7. If a box of one dozen tiny tiles cost $7, how much would it cost to completely cover the
birdhouse?______________

8. How many boxes of tiles would I need to purchase?

___________________________________________________

9. Now you must be thinking, I could build a birdhouse like this out of wood, but I would make it exactly 4 times
bigger.
If the wood cost $5 for 100 cm2 , how much would it cost to create a birdhouse that was 4 times bigger than the
one
we made out of paper?
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10. Explain in 2-3 sentences how you were able to determine the surface area of the entire birdhouse.
Key words to include:
measure, centimeters, area, formula, height, length ,base, width, multiply, add, subtract, rectangle, triangle