Education Technology


Proportional Flag

Activity Overview

Students will use the concepts of similarity to create a scale drawing of the national flag, that is large enough to cover most of a football field.

Before the Activity

  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 80 - 86 from the attached PDF file for your class
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the pages to the class.

    Follow the activity procedures:

  • Understand that similar figures have proportional dimensions, and figures with proportional dimensions are similar
  • Analyze and record the dimensions of the flag and the football field
  • Study and record the length to width ratio of the flag and the field
  • Enter the ratios as fractions in the calculator
  • Check if the fractions are in their simplest terms, and if they are equal
  • Decide whether the flag and the field are similar figures
  • Draw a scale model of the football field flag
  • Label the length and width of each section of the flag, including the diameter of one star
  • After the Activity

    Students calculate the amount of fabric that will be needed to create the flag.

  • Review student results
  • As a class, look at the diagrams presented and note any similarities and differences
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary