Geometry Project: Park Design with Area, Perimeter, and Volume (with Budgeting!)

This project allows students to apply their knowledge of perimeter, area, volume, and decimal calculations to a realistic and creative situation.

They are tasked with designing a new park that includes areas for swimming, playing (skate park, playground, and grass), eating, and walking.

They use their knowledge of perimeter when considering the size and shape of their park and the amount of fencing required. Every student is assigned the same perimeter. This constraint ensures your students can accurately calculate perimeter, it makes some of the marking easier for you, and it will help stimulate a discussion about the relationship between perimeter and area. Although all the perimeters are the same, the areas of your students' parks can be vastly different depending on the shape chosen!

They use their knowledge of area when dividing the park up into sections for different activities. An understanding of volume is used when considering filling the pool.

Finally, they use their knowledge of decimal calculations when determining the final price of the entire project. Each different section has a different cost (unit rate). For example, paths are much cheaper than a playground, and grassy areas cost less than a swimming pool. I asked my students to calculate by hand, but you could allow yours to use a calculator as well.

This project requires students to use creative and logical thinking skills, organization, careful calculating methods, and neat drawing/colouring. It is a great project to use as a summative assessment or to show parents at conferences.

Grades to Use With:

This math project could work in grades 4-8 in regular math classes. It could also be used in high school special education classes.

If you enjoy this math project, check out some others in my store:

Transformation Design with Rubric

Math Mini Unit: Converting Scores into Percentages

Math Project: Create Your Dream Store

A total of 4 pages: Title Page, 2 Page Worksheet, 1 Page Grid