Geometry Kick

Where has time gone? I can't believe it's been this long since my last post. My kiddo's have been super busy and it seems like we've been on a geometry kick lately.  I used to hate math when I was kid and it's my passion to make it meaningful to my students so they don't hate it. I spend a lot of time explaining why the numbers and "things" work.  This can be hard for geometry because many of the concepts are abstract.

One of the key elements of helping students understand geometry is giving them time to explore. This is easily done with pattern blocks, but what can be done for concepts like rays, line segments, lines, etc.? Fret no more! Download triangles, lines, and circles to engage your students in exploration.

I started with allowing the kids to "play" with them. I challenged them to see what they could create, then we walked around saw what the students made, and then slowly we started making geometric concepts. Man, was I blown away. Our third grade teachers did such a good job preparing them, and boy do I have to thank them!

Now, I did cut out all the shapes beforehand so it would be a focused process on the content since I have a few squirrels in my room. However, one may contend I'm nuts. I promise the use of my handy paper cutter this took no more than 30 minutes to prep!

How do you get your students involved in geometry exploration?

Symmetrical Pumpkins

I've had pumpkins and corn mazes on my mind. Seriously. I've got no little ones of my own to take, but for some reason, I've been totally in the mood. With bad weather this weekend, this girl had to be a little creative and had to make do with symmetrical pumpkins.

Last week we reviewed congruency, similarity, and symmetry and today we applied. After a quick review game students constructed their own symmetrical pumpkins. This was a great activity to review what the line of symmetry is and what a reflection is. 

They're super cute and easy to make. Plus, it's always interesting seeing nine and ten year olds use scissors and make artsy things. It's totally obvious we don't do it enough!

Here are the super easy directions. I've found it best to demonstrate while I go and have an example. First, lay the orange and black paper on top of each and fold in half (It doesn't matter if it's vertical or horizontal. I let them decide!). Then start cutting half a pumpkin making sure you keep the center fold in the middle. Unfold. Cut one color in half, and glue on both sides (you have to flip the one color so it fits on the other side). Keep the paper together so you have 4 sheets and then you can gut out the eyes, mouth, nose, etc. Glue on opposites (black on orange, orange on black). We talked a lot about how to make it so it would stay symmetrical.

The best part about it is.... one of my kiddo's last year figured out how to make it completely symmetrical on both sides. Many of the directions just tell you how to do it from one side. The key step is cutting 4 pieces of the same paper so they're congruent.

The kids loved this activity and want to make even more... now that's a success!