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Experiment 31 v2
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Creating a cardboard model of your community
Syllabus links
Key Stage 2 (age 7 to 11)
Can you create a model of your community using cardboard and other materials found at home?
Purpose
This experiment gives children an opportunity to build a cardboard model to scale.
The child will learn about measurement and proportion.
You need to know
- how to divide numbers
- how to use a tape measure and a ruler
You will need
Steps
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Using your pencil and paper, draw a simple map of your own community and indicate all important landmarks, buildings, and structures you want to include in your model.
Make this as large as possible, so the cardboard models of the buildings can go on top.
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Add a compass rose to show the direction of north.
- Gather all necessary materials. Use alternatives and other materials not found above that could help you create a fantastic model of your community.
- Depending on how large your community is or on how detailed your models are, you may want to get the help of your friends and family and turn this experiment into a fun group activity.
- Put names on your streets and buildings. You may also want to be a bit more creative by using colors your models based on the actual structures.
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Have fun creating your community's cardboard model.
Hint
Try to draw your map to scale. For example, 10 metres in real life might be represented by 5 centimetres on your model.
Questions
- How did you make sure you drew your map accurately?
- How did you make sure your model buildings were in proportion to the real buildings?
Expected answers
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Drawing from memory is not accurate. It would be better to take real measurements or to base the map on existing maps or satellite images (whether on paper or the Web).
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You could measure the real buildings, or estimate their sizes in relation to surrounding structures.
Explore further (optional)
How could you improve your cardboard model? For example, how could you make it more realistic or accurate?
Tips for further exploration
It might be possible to make the model more realistic by choosing other materials to build with. If you have not already done so, you could use a tape measure to find the real dimensions of the buildings to be modelled.
