San Antonio
Institute of Texas Cultures


Group Members: Alison, Erik, Nathan, Fiona

While on our trip to the San Antonio Missions, we visited the Institute of Texan Cultures. We were guided throughout the Institute by a guide, and were given information on the Native Americans that lived in and around the San Antonio area. A big part of Indians lives was hunting and gathering food. The Indians used spears to hunt for food, dig, and carve other tools. The spear displayed below is a significant part in the development of primitive Indian Societies.

Math Problem: What is the volume of the spear if the spear is 42 inches long and the radius is 0.25 inches?

Solution: To find the volume of the spear, you will take pi times the radius squared and then you will times that by the height (42 inches).

Topic: : Pythagorean Theorem

Grade Level: 5-8

Standard: #1 Mathematics as Problem Solving

The mathematics curriculum should include numerous and varied experiences with problem solving as a method of inquiry and application so that students can--


Group Members: Shawn, Anesa, Drew, and Jon

The 8th grade class of 2000 went to visit the missions. During our visit, we went to see Mission Concepcion. While we were there we saw the windows at the missions built by the people that first lived there. Back then the people in the missions used the windows for three main reasons. One important reason was for air ventilation. They also used the windows for light and a view of the outside. Without the windows, the missions would be dark.

Math Problem: Find the area of the glass part of the window if the length of the wood is 2.5 feet and the width of the wood across the window if 2 feet? Understand that the window if 2 inches shorter than the wood both in length and in height.

Solution: Subtract two inches from both the lengtha nd the width. Then find the area

Topic: Basic Geometry

Grade Level: 5-8.

Standard 4: Explore problems and describe results using graphical, numerical, physical, algebraic, and verbal mathematical models or representations


Group Members: Sade, Robert, Tina, Dominique

The Avery Tractor Engine and Thresher Company of Peoria, Illinois, manufactured the 18 to 36 horsepower gasoline-powered tractor in the early early 1900's. The Avery Tractor resembles an early steam tractor and it was intended to be replaced. The Avery Company introduced the first combustion tractor about 1913. They had developed a long line of six models of gasoline and kerosine-powered tractors that very much varied in size from 8 to 5 horse power. The company had to decide rather to choose an unorthodox engine design for that period of time. A horizontal design opposed the cylinder arrangement of two cylinders for the other smaller tractors and for the other larger ones. All the tractors large and small had to be hand cranked and had very heavy transmission gears.

Math Problem: What is the diameter of the circle and the circumference if the radius of the wheel is 69 inches?

Solution: In order to find out the solution you would find the diameter by doubling the radius. To find out the circumference look up the formula and plug in the numbers.

Topic: 2-D Geometry

Grade Level: 5-8

Standard 1: Mathematics as problem Solving. The mathematics curriculum should include numerous and varied experiences with problem solving as a method of inquiry and application so that students--


Group Members: Jessica, Blair, Tanya, Graham

A few weeks ago, my eighth grade class went to visit Mission Concepcion. We learned that the church had a lot to do with mission life and keeping the faith alive. The church was a well liked sanctuary in missions; especially in times of trouble. It was the center of many religious activity such as festivals and religious celebrations.

Math Problem: The priest wants to put a glass top on the table to preserve the table cloth. If the table top is 3 foot by 8 ft. , how much glass should the glass cutter cut for the church?

Solution: Step one- look in a math book and find the formula for the area of a rectangle

Step Two- apply the length and width to the formula to find out how much the glass cutter should cut for the church.

Topic: 2-D geometry

Grade Level: Fifth grade-Eighth Grade

Standard 2: Mathematics as Problem Solving

The mathematics curriculum should include numerous and varied experiences with problem solving as a method of inquiry and application so that students can--


Previous Next
Back to Texas list