Lesson plan based on Hadrian

Determine which geometric shapes were used to design the Pantheon and estimate its interior volume.

Skills and Focus: Geometry, Problem Solving

Subject Area: Mathematics

Thematic Connection: Counting and Calculating

Grade Level: Middle School

Time Needed: 60 minutes

Objectives

• Analyze a building based on different views and plans.

• Estimate the volume of a building.

Instructional Materials Needed

Story: Who Was Hadrian?

Printouts of various views of the Pantheon (found at http://harpy.uccs.edu/roman/html/pantheonslides.html)

Activity

Step 1: After watching Who Was Hadrian?, emphasize that Hadrian was not only the emperor of Rome, but also the designer of the Pantheon and other important buildings.

Step 2: Look at images and plans of the Pantheon with the class. Discuss with the students the basic two—dimensional and three—dimensional shapes used in designing the Pantheon.

Step 3: Lead a class discussion on methods that can be used to estimate the volume of the interior of the Pantheon. Have students estimate the volume by combining the volume of the lower (drum) section and the volume of the hemisphere (dome) section.

Goals

This activity meets Illinois State Goal 9: Use geometric methods to analyze, categorize, and draw conclusions about points, lines, planes, and space.

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