A spring lesson had Panther Creek geometry students building their own skyscrapers and learning important math lessons in the process.

When geometry teacher Nick Frederick was considering a fresh lesson for his students, he drew from his experience as a middle school teacher. Students engage in a more meaningful way when they can create something, he said — so what better way of learning how to measure surface area and volume of 3D shapes than with a skyscraper city?

“They did a few sketches one day to practice 3D drawing — it’s more abstract thinking,” Frederick said. “After they sketched, they used cardboard and hot glue to build. There was some mini engineering mixed in there, too.”

Advanced students built the skyscrapers, as well as a 3D sketch and a net — the flattened-out version of their building. On-level students found the volume and surface area of their chosen buildings.

“They constructed first; I told them to go as crazy as they wanted,” Frederick said. Then it was time for a blueprint, a sort of “backwards design.”

This was more than an opportunity for arts and crafts in math class; it also fulfilled geometry TEKS, allowing students to get creative as they learned.

“I think the project was really interactive and fun. It didn’t feel like work,” said Panther Creek ninth grader Sujani, whose three-building skyscraper looked like a heart from above. “The project being so interactive really helped me get it.”

Frederick, who has been at Panther Creek since it opened three years ago, said this is his first year for the lesson, and he’s looking forward to developing it in the future.

“It was pure chaos, but it was so much fun. You could see the evidence of learning,” he said. “As you cut shapes out and make a mistake, you have to redo it. Every decision led up to them getting a fuller grasp.”