What mathematics is required to build a miniature?
A learning environment focused on three-dimensional modeling
Critical Mathematics Education, Learning Environment, Maker Culture, Collaborative Learning, RDWorks Software.
This study researches the mathematical concepts mobilized and the procedures employed by 2nd-year high school students in the construction of three-dimensional miniatures representing parts of their school environment based on a pedagogical approach grounded in Critical Mathematics Education and the Maker Culture. This is a qualitative research, with a descriptive objective,conducted during Mathematics and Problem-Solving classes, where the mathematical content was not taught in isolation but required and applied by students throughout the development of the miniature construction project. The didactic proposal was structured with collective moments and small groups, each group was responsible for reproducing a different school building at a reduced scale based on its architectural features and a scale reduction defined by the class. The dynamics encouraged the mobilization of various mathematical concepts, which were discussed by the class and shared during the project and a final seminar. The project development required collaborative strategies to obtain real measurements of the buildings, record data and critically analyze them, allowing the flat modeling of three-dimensional structures through softwares such as MakerCase and RDWorks. Thus, the activity demanded practical application of concepts such as proportion, similarity, trigonometry, plane and solid geometry, besides skills in organization, planning, technology use, critical investigation and group decision-making. A key moment of the project was the visit to the LabMaker at IFRS – Canoas campus, where the models were materialized through laser cutting and engraving on MDF boards. This visit expanded the students’ educational and professional horizons by exposing them to the resources available at the institution. The data collection involved questionnaires, written records, observations and digital files produced by students and the researcher, with the teacher's interventions limited to guidance and clarification of doubts, so fostering students’ autonomy and confidence during the project. The proposal enhanced students’ understanding of their active role in the learning process and their perception of mathematics as a tangible and ubiquitous tool for solving real-world problems. Student feedback also highlighted that activities involving exploration and practical application of concepts beyond the classroom walls, along with collaborative work, made learning and knowledge consolidation more meaningful.