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  • Subject Area

    • Math: Middle Grades Math: Problem Solving
    • Math: Middle Grades Math: Number Sense
    • Math: Middle Grades Math: Algebraic Thinking
    • Math: PreAlgebra: Measurement
    • Math: PreAlgebra: Number Sense and Operations

  • Author

    Texas Instruments

  • Level

    6-8

  • Activity Time

    60 Minutes

  • Device
    • TI-15 Explorer™
  • Other Materials
      This is Activity 10 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
      Developing Problem-Solving Skills with the TI-15

      The following materials are required for this activity:
    • Pencils
    • 12 X 18 paper
    • Rulers
    • Photograph of the teacher or one of the students
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Set Design

Activity Overview

Students will use similarity concepts, and the dimensions of the carvings on Mt. Rushmore to create a proportional representation of the carvings for a stage backdrop.

Before the Activity

  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 66 - 72 from the attached PDF file for your class
  • Study the activity on pages 68 - 69 and understand the concept of similarity
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the pages to the class.

    Follow the activity procedures:

  • Find the relationship between the real bed and the doll bed
  • Find the ratio of the short sides of the real bed and the doll bed
  • Use the ratio to find the sides of the quilt


  • Study the height and mouth measurements, eye span and nose length of the four faces carved on Mount Rushmore
  • Note the backdrop is 16 feet high and 24 feet wide and that for the scale drawing is 12" x 18"
  • Find the scale to be used in the drawing
  • Draw the ovals for the faces and sketch the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth for each face
  • Note the dimensions used
  • After the Activity

    Students present their results to the class.

  • Review student results
  • As a class, discuss the various calculations used
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary