Geometry & Spatial Sense - Week 7

Geometry Wordle, Picture. [Online Image] Google.

This week was all about the shapes! Geometry and Spatial Sense was probably my favourite unit back in elementary school. I myself am a very visual and concrete learner. Therefore, getting to see what I'm doing through the use of manipulative's and examples in my own hands, is the best style of learning for me. I also believe students, especially in the elementary grades learn math the best and actually comprehend it when using manipulative's.

                      Geometry Refrence, Picture. [Online Image] Google.                 Geometry 2015-2016, Picture. [Online Image] Google.


We started off the lesson by identifying Key Terms. These included:
-Similar: In math it means the same shape but could be different sizes, colours etc. Shapes are similar when, "they have the same shape, with sides in proportion to one another." (Making Math Meaningful, page 371)

Quiz & Worksheet- Similar Shapes in Math. Picture. [Online Worksheet] Google.

-Congruent: In math means equal, colour does not affect this. Shapes are congruent when, "one can be transformed into the other through a series of flips, slides, and or turns." (Making Math Meaningful, page 370) Sides and angles of a shape can also be considered congruent.

BBC: Congruent Shapes. Picture. [Online Image] Google.

****Everything congruent is similar but everything similar is not congruent!****

Pat taught us that engaging the students in an activity that they can relate to will not only create a fun learning environment but the student will also take more away from the lesson and remember what they are learning. This has been a key idea that Pat has been trying to reinforce throughout ALL our math classes!

Another fun activity we did to kick start our symmetry lesson was getting the entire class to stand up, look at each other and try to identify who is symmetrical, and who is not? I could see this working in  a junior to intermediate classroom exceptionally because again, we are involving the students and associating them to their learning by using real-life concepts to relate math.

Face Symmetry of Celebrities. Picture. [Online Image] Google.

Following this we brought reading into our math lesson.... READING! I know, who would have thought that reading a story goes along with math class. Our math textbook, Making Math Meaningful, provides a list of books at the end of each chapter in which teachers can use as resources to help teach their students math in both a fun and informative way. I believe students love to be read to at any age, so by providing a scenario in which the class can be read to but also taught key math ideas is revolutionary. I would have LOVED this when I was in elementary school.

The book we read was called The Greedy Triangle. The book was about a Triangle who was dissatisfied with how many sides he had. Therefore, he went to the shapeshifter to constantly add more and more sides thinking this would make him happy. The poor triangle had so many sides that he ended up loosing his balance and got in a bad accident. As a result of this, the triangle finally realized that he was happy being himself. This book mixed math and children's literature along with moral values into an excellent combination for learning.



The Greedy Triangle. Picture. [Online Image] Google.

Furthermore, this week was the week I did my lesson plan presentation. I chose the topic of symmetry, specifically reflective symmetry of 2-D and 3-D shapes. The line of symmetry is, "when one half of a shape reflects onto the other half across a line." (Making Math Meaningful, page 354) Many shapes can have one or more lines of symmetry because the more sides there are on a regular polygon, the more lines of symmetry there are because the shape is resembling more and more like a circle. (page 354)

Reflective Symmetry: Is also known as reflectional, or mirror symmetry.
In Making Math Meaningful, reflective symmetry is "when one half of the shape is a reflection of the other half." (page 354) Both 2-D and 3-D Shapes can have reflective symmetry.
-2-D Shape: the reflection is across a line.
-3-D Shape: the reflection is across a plane.
-AND BOTH have opposite sides that are mirror images.

BBC Reflection Symmetry. Picture [Online Image] Google

The lesson and activity was designed for a Grade 4 classroom and I conducted it to my associate teacher candidates. I produced a mini lesson about Symmetry to the class, and then read the scenario and task out to my peers. The task was to follow the treasure hunt map by identifying which shapes are: symmetrical, asymmetrical and how many lines of symmetry does each object have. Once completed, the students found the treasure, "leftover Halloween candy". I feel like this activity ran smoothly and that the class enjoyed it.

Before I did my presentation I felt nervous but I did not realize how nervous I actually was until I got up there. I realized I needed to slow my pace when discussing the activity to the class. I talk REALLY fast when I get nervous so it's good to remember to SLOW DOWN! Especially when teaching in the elementary grades, in order to make sure students understand the concepts that you are teaching.

Courtney Helt



Courtney Helt

Geometry is a topic that students can get excited about! If you want to be an inspiring teacher get the students up and moving, provide worksheets and different manipulative's that the students can engage with. Use multi-media, your smart board so students can physically move shapes and identify their properties. There are thousands of fun and interesting ways that a teacher can teach Geometry. Whether you explore Pinterest or online resources, teachers just have to be willing to go outside of their comfort zone and explore the wonderful possibilities in which you can teach math! This will create a fun and inviting learning environment, in which your students will be successful.

 

KEY TAKE HOME MESSAGE: GEOMETRY YOU GOTTA DO IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL!!!!

 

 

Cheers, Courtney!