At Camp Nuhop we like to build giant domes out of logs that can support the weight of a whole group of students at once, but we can modify that for you to try out at home today! In this lesson we will study the history of the geodome, learn about shapes and how they form structures, and make a scale model mini dome.

Before we move on, scroll through the images below to see some real-life examples of geodomes. Perhaps you have seen some of these!

So, what else can you think of that is a dome? Here's a challenge, can you come up with three more ideas? Share with a friend, sibling or caregiver!

Now let's talk triangles...

Most of the domes we've looked at so far are made up of triangles or other repeated shapes. Triangles have a very strong structure because of the way the sides evenly distribute force. This is why they are used in building all types of shapes, not just domes. Take a scroll through the images below to see some examples of triangles used in construction:

Let's Get Our Terminology Right

Let's take a second to do a quick review of triangles.

• Triangles come in many types

• Triangles can be classified based on their sides or their angles

Triangles classified by angles:

• Right - a triangle that has one angle that is a right angle (90 degrees)

• Obtuse - a triangle that has one angle that is obtuse (wider than 90 degrees)

• Acute - a triangle that has all three angles that are acute (smaller than 90 degrees)

Triangles classified by side lengths:

• Equilateral - a triangle that has three sides that are all the same length

• Isosceles - a triangle that has two sides that are the same length, and one that is different

• Scalene - a triangle that has three sides that are all different lengths

From Vocabulary to the Real Deal

1. For this activity, grab a handful of small linear objects (objects that are shaped like a line). Some options include:

   • toothpicks

   • popsicle sticks

   • straws (try to find paper straws, not plastic so we can #savetheturtles)

2. Take your linear objects and place them on a piece of paper.

3. Try to create one example of each type of triangle and trace it with a pen or pencil.

4. When you're done, scroll down and see if your drawings resemble the images in the answer key.

Bonus Activity: 100% Certified Triangle Strength Test

For this activity, you will need a partner and a little bit of space to move arounnd.

• Step 1 - Stand with your legs close together so that the triangle formed between your two legs is isosceles. (Your legs are the same length, and then the distance between them on the floor is shorter)

• Step 2 - Have a partner carefully push on your torso from the side, as if trying to tip you over into a cartwheel.

• Step 3 - Repeat the process again but this time with your legs spread apart to form an equilateral triangle. (The distance between your legs should be the same as the length of one of your legs)

• Which stance felt more stable? Do you think an isosceles triangle is stronger, or an equilateral?

I saw a right triangle resting under a tree and thought,

"Wow, 90 degrees in the shade!"

Haver you ever wanted your very own geodome? It's time to make it happen! The next part of this activity takes you through the process of constructing your very own mini geodome out of household objects. Have fun!

Review and Reflection

Congrats on building your very own dome! Maybe next time you could scale it up and build a whole fort for yourself or your pets. Wouldn't that be such a cool place to hang out? Let's reflect on what we learned:

1. Buckminster Fuller was thinking outside the box (literally!) when he introduced a new shape into architectural construction. Who is another groundbreaking thinker you admire and what did they contribute to our world?

2. Is there a reason we used triangles to form our dome? What would happen if we tried to make one out of squares, rectangles, or even circles?

3. Buckminster Fuller suggested that geodome houses would be common in the future of architecture. That hasn't really happened. Do you have any ideas why? Would you want to live in a dome? Why or why not?

Quick Quiz

Let's do this! After all that research on different structures, it's time to put you knowledge to the test. Feel free to look back and review for each of the questions. You'll do great!

About the Author

Rainbow*

There are so many colors of the rainbow, and she likes to use every one! When Rainbow graduated from high school, she went to Kent State University to study fine art, but found that her favorite time of year was the time she spent working at summer camps in between semesters. If you've been to an Ohio Girl Scout camp lately, you've probably seen her there! After earning a BFA in painting and sculpture, she came to Nuhop to work in a camp setting year-round. Her favorite activities are campfires, the high ropes course, and rock climbing. She can't wait to see the smiling faces of all her campers when they come to Nuhop once again!

*The Nuhop Outdoor Education Staff use "nature names" when working with students. The reason for these nature names is twofold: first it gives them a built-in conversation starter with students, and second, it provides them a level of personal privacy when working with over 4000 students in a given year.