Vayakhel- A multi-level hands-on activity

"'Every wise-hearted person among you shall come and make everything that Hashem has commanded: the Tabernacle-spread, its Tent-spread, and its Cover, its hooks, its beams, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; the Aron and its staves, the Lid, the Parochet screen; the Shulchan, and its staves, and all its implements, and the Bread of Surfaces; and the Menorah of illumination, and its implements, and its lamps, and the oil of illumination; and the Mizbe'ach for the Incense and its staves; and the anointing oil and the incense spices; and the entrance screen for the entrance of the Mishkan; the Mizbe'ach of the olah-offering and its copper lattice, its staves, and all its implements; the Kiyyor and its pedestal; the curtains of the Courtyard, its pillars, and its sockets, and the screen of the gate of the Courtyard; the pegs of the Mishkan, and the pegs of the Courtyard, and their cords; the mesh garments of the holy for Aaron the Kohen and the garments of his sons, to be Kohanim.'" ~Shemot 35;10-19

The above passage gives the list of items which the Jewish people were instructed to build as part of the Mishkan for worship in the desert. What follows afterwards in Shemot 36;8-38;20 are detailed descriptions for the building of the Mishkan and all its contents.

Note: Whereas most weeks I try to provide some added insight or understanding into the parsha through my mathematical investigation, this week's topic is an overview for an academic unit based on the information provided in the parsha. The students completing such a unit would certainly gain a deeper insight and understanding of the mishkan and it's contents. 

The major substantive part of this week's parsha is very specific blueprints for building the mishkan and it's contents- the aron, mizbeach, kiyyor, menorah, etc. 

An outline for a hands-on learning opportunity for multiple levels:
Older students can use the details to draw a scale blueprint. This would include:
--conversion from Torah measurements to modern day measurements
--adjusting measurements to a scale proportion
--accuracy of measurement and drawing in their blueprint
--attention to detailed descriptions provided in the text
Older students can create a list of required supplies and materials to build a scale model. This would include:
--accounting for amounts of each material needed based on length, width, height, area, etc. of where and how each material is used
--computation of conversions between the blueprint and model sizes
--being mindful of economic use of materials and trying to calculate to take only what's needed and use materials in such a way that minimal scrap is left over
Younger students can use the blueprint and/or text to help create materials lists. This would include:
--listing the different parts that are to be created
--listing the different materials that are used/needed
--counting out items, such as rings for attaching panels, to determine how many are needed all together throughout the project
Students of all ages can work together on building the model. This would include:
--measuring out and cutting materials to size
--following the blueprints of the text and that created by the student to accurately build the mishkan and it's contents.