While many classroom assignments end up forgotten in a backpack, for the students at Lassen High School, one particular tradition has been scaling up for a quarter-century. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Geometry Enlargement Projects, a hands-on tradition that turns mathematical theory into tangible art.
The project, which has become a staple of the LHS math curriculum, was first introduced in 2001 by teacher Jason Meadows, who brought the concept from his previous school.
Today, Geometry teacher Jessica Larson continues the legacy, challenging students to think big – literally.
The Challenge: Scale and Precision
The assignment sounds simple, but it requires a deep understanding of ratios and spatial reasoning. Students begin with a small everyday object—a box or a cylinder—that must fit comfortably in the palm of their hand. From there, the math begins.
Students must enlarge their original object by a factor of at least 3x and a minimum of two sides must be perfectly scaled and reconstructed.
For those looking to boost their grade, students can opt to complete all sides of the object, create movable parts, or even reconstruct the “contents” found inside the original packaging.
A Quarter-Century of Creativity
Over the last 25 years, these projects have transformed the hallways of Lassen High into a gallery of oversized snacks, household goods, and tech gadgets. By moving beyond the textbook, students see firsthand how Area and Volume change as a shape grows.
“This is our 25th year of making the Geometry Enlargement Projects,” says Larson. “Jason Meadows brought the project from his first school in 2001, and it has been a favorite ever since.”
The project remains a highlight for the Grizzly community, blending the precision of engineering with the creativity of art, proving that geometry is about much more than just points and lines on a page – it’s about how we see and build the world around us.
