Determining scale from a drawing pairs math skills with an artistic eye. Challenge students to find the dimensions of several drawings by applying a realistic scale to the drawings. Include a key to show the scale, and have students determine the size of the original. Present these in the form of word problems. Allow students to discuss if the drawings were originally drawn to scale based on the measurements of several items in the drawing.
Most scale drawings have easily determined scales thanks to included keys. If a key is not included, it can often be estimated using an approximate size of an object in the drawing. Have students measure an object similar to one pictured in the drawing, and estimate the size of other items in the drawing using the same scale. Discuss ways to apply this to other scale drawings without keys.
Grids are one of the easiest ways to make a scale drawing, because it marks off a set scale in both the length and the width. Begin with having students redraw another scaled drawing in a new scale using a grid. Then encourage them to use a grid to draw a scaled drawing of a familiar area such as their bedroom or the classroom. Sometimes it is easiest to start with a room or area before attempting scaled drawings of objects.
A scale can be skewed to create artistic effects. Applying different scales to different areas of the drawing will create an abstract look because it will change the perspective of the drawing. Have students change the scale in a certain area of the drawing, or of a particular object and discuss how this affects the rest of the drawing. This lesson can also be used to show the importance keeping the correct scale in scale drawings.