Shapes Around Us
Shapes Around Us
Objectives
Students will describe and name shapes using building blocks, geoblocks, three-dimensional shapes, various boxes, and their two-dimensional faces. Students will:
- sort shapes to identify their similarities and differences.
- use correct geometric terminology.
- investigate and discuss shapes.
- find real-life examples of two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional figures.
- recognize a shape by its appearance as a whole or through attributes.
- discuss shapes and figures in the classroom and be able to classify them based on attributes.
Essential Questions
How are spatial relationships, including shape and dimension, used to draw, construct, model, and represent real situations or solve problems?
How can geometric properties and theorems be used to describe, model, and analyze situations?
How can mathematics support effective communication?
How can patterns be used to describe relationships in mathematical situations?
How can recognizing repetition or regularity assist in solving problems more efficiently?
How can the application of the attributes of geometric shapes support mathematical reasoning and problem solving?
How is mathematics used to quantify, compare, represent, and model numbers?
What does it mean to estimate or analyze numerical quantities?
- How are spatial relationships, including shape and dimension, used to draw, construct, model, and represent real situations or solve problems?
- How can geometric properties and theorems be used to describe, model, and analyze situations?
Related Unit and Lesson Plans
Related Materials & Resources
The possible inclusion of commercial websites below is not an implied endorsement of their products, which are not free, and are not required for this lesson plan.
- Big Shapes for Little Kids by Susan Mascall and Bob Mascall. Fundangles, 1999.
- The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns. Scholastic, 1995.
- http://pbskids.org/curiousgeorge/games/i_love_shapes/i_love_shapes.html (PBS sorting activity)
- http://mathforum.org/varnelle/kgeo1.html (NCTM Geometry Activities)
- http://free.kinderwebgames.com/ (Interactive Web site that talks to students)
- Shapes, Shapes, Shapes by Tana Hoban. Greenwillow Books, 1996.
- Shapes in Nature by J. Feldman. Children’s Press, 1991.
- Circus Shapes by Stuart J. Murphy. HarperCollins, 1997.
- Patternables Activity Book. Learning Resources, 1997. (Can be purchased from www.learningresources.com.)
- Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert. Lippincott, 1989.
- Alphabet City by Stephen Johnson. Viking, 1995.
- Hands-on Standards. Learning Resources, 2006. (Can be purchased from www.learningresources.com.)
- Navigating Through Geometry in Prekindergarten–Grade 2, The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Inc. NCTM.
- http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/math-games/tanagram-game (PBS online tangram puzzles)
- http://www.gingerbooth.com/flash/patblocks/patblocks.php (online pattern block manipulation tool)
- http://www.tuxpaint.org/ (Program must be downloaded.)
Formative Assessment
Final 3/7/14