Build a Scale Model of a Shipping Container Home

Students are introduced to shipping container home construction and design their own 3D scale model of a shipping container home made from cut-out paper templates. Students can use their models to practice basic calculations of ratio, volume, and surface area as they estimate the amount of flooring and paint needed to complete their design. In this adaptable design and budgeting process, students create a unique building, solve multi-step problems, write their own expressions for project costs, determine and apply the scale factor of their model, and calculate surface area.