I'm going to teach my landscape design class how to use the architects scale. What is the best way to go about it? Just lots of practice or has someone figured out a good way to explain it. I can just see my class looking at me in pure confusion when I try to explain it to them. So I would appreciate any tips on how to best describe and how to use the architects scale!!
Thanks!
I start small using whole numbers... example
Draw a line that is five feet long to the scale of 1 inch =1 foot
Then I will add half inches so they have to practice only drawing half and inch.
Then I add in questions where they have to draw a square or a rectangle to a certain scale. (a rectangle that is 4 feet by 8 feet to the scale of 1/2 inch = 1 foot.
They really get confused if you give them questions where the line or shape does not fit on the paper, so you may want to try them yourself ahead of time. They also have a hard time drawing an 8.5 foot line to the scale of 3/8 inches = 1 foot (they don't like trying to figure out half of 3/8 inches.
Once they master the lines and shapes, I have them draw my classroom to scale. I put a different color piece of paper on each wall and once they draw the four walls, I have them mark the colors on their paper- in the past they get confused and the front of the room turns into the back... and then they get all messed up~! They have to draw the desks, tables, file cabinets. Have them start with the stuff that is along the walls and then put the free standing objects in last. It helps with their perspective of the room.
Hope this helps!!
Tera