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History of Doll's Houses

Teachers' Notes

Resource created by Leeds Museums and Galleries: Leeds Discovery Centre.

This story explores many different areas of mathematics, including shape, pattern and symmetry, through a creative project. It looks in depth at a resource from the Leeds Discovery Centre, a doll’s house kit from the 1960s, created by Maureen Roffey. By the end of the project, students will be equipped with the mathematical knowledge to design and create their own doll’s house from a net. 

You can use the Student PowerPoints to deliver the content in class, comprising subject knowledge, images and interactive resources. These are separated into KS1, LKS2 and UKS2, in order to only cover the relevant National Curriculum content. There is also a Teachers' PowerPoint which contains ​all of the content, so you can get further information or tailor the content for your students' needs.

The pupils will explore areas of maths such as shape, pattern, symmetry and rotation to develop the designs for their houses. Each topic is self-contained, and can be delivered in stand-alone sessions, or taught sequentially, to create a longer-running project. ​

You may wish to start by introducing Maureen Roffey's Doll's House and the topic of Nets so they can see the desired outcome first, before exploring the other areas of maths to incorporate into their design process.

 

Curriculum Links

The Teachers' PowerPoint details which statements are covered within these broader areas.

Mathematics

  • Key Stage 1
  • Year 1 – Shapes, Pattern
  • Year 2 – Shapes, Rotation, Pattern
  • Key Stage 2
  • Year 3 – Nets, Shapes, Rotation
  • Year 4 – Shapes, Symmetry
  • Year 5 – Nets, Shapes, Symmetry
  • Year 6 – Nets, Shapes

Art & Design

  • Key Stage 1 - "to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space; about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers"
  • Key Stage 2 - "about great artists, architects and designers in history"

 

Activity Ideas

  • Look at artists like M. C. Escher to learn more about tessellations. 
  • Create a tessellation inspired by M. C. Escher. 
  • Create a seamless repeating pattern. 
  • Develop your own net for a different building.