Geometry - Theme Park Design

Spoke-Hub Pathway Design

Math is always about turning abstract numbers, equations and measurements into something real and useful. One of the best examples of math being put to the creative test is Walt Disney World, where creative math is used everyday.

In order to put our knowledge of geometry into practice, we are going to begin the construction of our very own theme parks. Today you will begin creating a blue-print for the design of your first three attractions. To begin take a look at the Walt Disney World artistic blue-print for the Magic Kingdom. Its design is based on the spoke-hub design where all paths to attractions radiate out form Cinderella's Castle. In order to keep traffic flowing there are very little dead-ends and 90 degree angle paths in the Park.

 In your own blue-prints feel free to borrow some ideas from Walt Disney World (almost all theme parks do), but add your own original ideas as well. On grid paper you must connect your attractions with intersecting paths so that people can get to your attractions without any dead-ends. None of the paths can be 90 degrees. Construct three attractions to resemble three different polygons.

Learning Goal: Apply your understanding of measuring and constructing lines, angles and shapes to create a theme park blue print.

To be successful at this task I can...

• Use 0.5 cm grid paper or 1 cm grid paper to as the first draft of my Theme Park
• Review the Magic Kingdom map and use the spoke-hub design in my blue-print
• Use a protractor to measure, construct and identify all angles and shapes
• Use a ruler to measure and identify lengths of all lines
• Use no 90 degree angles, curves or circles
• Use benchmark of acute, obtuse, right and straight to ensure the accuracy of my measurements
• Review my previous work and the exemplars on the blog to see how to bump up my work