Space Shape Museum

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As a home connection, the students look for household items in the shapes that they are learning. As they bring them into school, the class begins to grow a space shape museum. This activity applies the knowledge they've learned to the world around them. They can begin to notice space shapes wherever they go. This lesson culminates with a Venn Diagram (PDF) of two space shapes to assess their understanding.

OBJECTIVE
Students will:

1. Review what they already know about space shapes
2. Create a space shape museum with objects from home
3. Compare and contrast two space shapes

MATERIALS

1. Space shape labels for Space Shape Museum
2. Some household items to use as fillers
3. Comparing Shapes (PDF)

SET UP AND PREPARE

1. Gather some of your own household items to use in case you need some fillers. (You'll find that pyramids are very hard to come by. The only one I have ever seen from my students is a model of an Egyptian pyramid.)
2. Photocopy a class set of Comparing Shapes (PDF).
3. Designate an area of the room that can become the Space Shape Museum.
4. Make the space shape labels. I usually fold card stock in half so that the labels can stand up. Make one for each shape.

REPRODUCIBLES

1. Comparing Shapes (PDF)
   

DIRECTIONS
Step 1:  Gather the students on the carpet or in a group area. Review what they learned previously about space shapes. Discuss the different shapes that they made the day before.

Step 2:  Inform the students that they will be creating a Space Shape Museum. This will be a museum in the classroom made up of objects that are different space shapes. Show the students the labels for each space shape and where the museum will be in the classroom.

Step 3:  Model finding a space shape in the room. "I know that we use these dice a lot for math games, but I think they are actually a space shape. Which shape are they?"  Allow the students to generate the answer and place the dice with the cube label.

Step 4:  Explain that today they will find some objects around the room and tonight they will find some objects at home. Allow the students to explore the room and find one or two objects each.

Step 5:  Decide together where each of the objects should be placed. Make sure the students understand the night's homework.

Step 6:  The next day gather on the carpet and sort through the objects together. As the museum grows make observations as a class. Which shapes appear most in the world around you?  Which appear least?

Step 7:  Explain that today they will be demonstrating what they have learned about space shapes. Distribute the Comparing Shapes Venn Diagrams (PDF) to each student at his/her desk. Review Comparing Shapes Venn Diagrams (PDF): what is similar goes on the inside and what is different goes on the outside. Allow students to choose any two space shapes they would like to compare. They can use the word bank at the bottom of the page to help them find similarities and differences.

Step 8:  Allow students to work independently and assess their understanding as you walk around the room. Allow time for sharing at the end of the lesson.

SUPPORTING ALL LEARNERS
The key to helping all students understand the museum idea is to find shapes in the classroom together first.  Assist any students who may need help when they are hunting through the room. This way they will be more confident to search at home. The Word Bank on the reproducible is also optional. If you would like to make the sheet more challenging you could leave the word bank off and allow the students to just use their memory.

ASSESS STUDENTS

• Monitor the class as they hunt around the room.
• Ask questions to individuals during the hunt to make sure they understand the concept. 
• Assess each individual's knowledge from the Comparing Shapes Venn Diagram (PDF).
• Ask and monitor for understanding during group discussions. 

ASSIGNMENTS

1. Homework:  Bring in household items of different space shapes.
2. Comparing Shapes Venn Diagram.

HOME CONNECTION
The Space Shape Museum allows students to connect the unit to their home lives. It also serves as a way to get parents involved in their child's learning. This connection can be ongoing for the whole unit or could just be a one-night assignment.

EVALUATE THE LESSON

• What went well? 
• What didn't? 
• What was the level of independent understanding in the Comparing Shapes Venn Diagram (PDF)?
• What areas, if any, caused confusion?
• How could you change the lesson to better suite the needs of your class?

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ARTICLE	The Geometric World of Young Children Geometry is one of the most natural and fun areas of mathematics to develop with young children. Clements suggests some ways in which educators can integrate geometry into early childhood classrooms. For more information about exploring math through manipulatives and shapes, see the sub-articles "Getting in Shape" and "What Children Already Know."
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