Overview
The following Geometry mini unit was created based on the grade 2 Ohio Learning Standard cluster “Reason with shapes and their attributes” Standard number 1: Recognize and draw shapes having specified attributes, such as a given number of angles or a given number of equal faces. Identify triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, and cubes.
Our justification for the following mini unit design can be summed up in the following statement from the Geometry Information webpage NZMATHS:
Our justification for the following mini unit design can be summed up in the following statement from the Geometry Information webpage NZMATHS:
Piaget and Inhelder suggest that students construct their internal representation of space by active manipulation of their environment. This means that this is not just a ‘reading off’ of the spatial world but results from active interaction with it. This concept is generally accepted. The implication for teaching here is that it is not enough to just show students a triangle, for instance, but rather that students will learn more about triangles if they pick one up and explore and play with it. This is very much in line with constructivist theories in other areas of learning.
(For more, visit http://nzmaths.co.nz/geometry-information)
The following mini unit involves students participating in hands-on manipulation of physical materials to learn about geometric shapes and space. Students will be expected to problem solve, share strategies, manipulate and construct using a variety of materials, reason with shapes, explain their thinking and work with peers.
Lesson one focuses on sorting shapes according to defining attributes, specifically triangles. This lesson is meant to review geometric shapes which students should have had exposure to in earlier grades.
Lesson one focuses on sorting shapes according to defining attributes, specifically triangles. This lesson is meant to review geometric shapes which students should have had exposure to in earlier grades.
Lesson two introduces the concept of quadrilaterals. Students will learn about five types of quadrilaterals using multimedia, then practice composing each type and problem solve with peers.
The final lesson of the unit allows students to explore shape orientation and make configurations with several types of different polygons. The lesson also incorporates a literature component with a read aloud of a picture book related to the geometry concepts emphasized in the lesson.
If students can see it, feel it, and hear about it the likelihood they will retain it increases!