Anthropometry Unit
In school, we have been learning about anthropometry. That is
the study of the human body.
Biometrics, which we have been working on in Math, is the bone
measurements. Architects use
ergonomics, which we have been learning about in science. There
is wellness and nutrition, which we
have been learning about in global studies. Your health is part
of wellness and nutrition. Finally, there is
anthropology, the study of cultures, which we have been learning
about in literature. For English, we had
the overall review. What is the optimal 6th grade learning
environment? The teachers asked us. We
ended up having to use biometrics and ergonomics to design a
classroom. Either, we tweak the things that
we found on the web or make something completely new. Because we
could not do it by ourselves, they
gave us partners to work with. I knew that the anthropometry
unit would be fun the minute I heard of it.
However, my partner and I did not do this without a plan. We
selected the items for the room that
we were going to use. Making the floorplan was difficult but we
did it. The model was due by Thursday
and so was the poster. Our audience was first-fourth graders. In
the room that we chose to present,
everything was going to be comfortable. We were going to make
two models. The models were going to
be the chairs, one bubble chair, and one massage chair.
Unfortunately, that did not work out. One of the
chairs, the bubble chair, which we made, completely fell apart.
However, in my opinion, our poster
presentation did not have any problems and it turned out
amazing. It was blue and had stripes on it. The
model was green and blue with a massage/recliner chair. These
steps took a long time, but we finished it
on time.
So, what is the optimal sixth grade-learning environment? That
depends on whom you ask. This
was one of the most fun projects that I have ever done and it
was definitely worth not having 5 classes a
day. When it came to building the project, I think that the
easiest part was the poster. We got it done the
fastest. The most difficult part of this was the model. I almost
threw it in the trash, and gave up on it
several times. One important thing I learned was that wellness
and nutrition should be a major part of my
