Interactive Geometry

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In the primary grades students learn plain shapes as well as "space shapes," or three-dimensional shapes. Keeping all the names of these shapes straight may be difficult. I find it helpful and fun to have very interactive projects as a way to learn the shape names. These projects are enjoyable for the students and allow them to learn and apply information about space shapes.

OBJECTIVE
Students will:

1. Discover the plain shapes that make up space shapes
2. Match and stamp shapes together
3. Create their own space shapes
4. Describe space shapes
5. Apply what they know about space shapes to make a museum of shapes
6. Compare and contrast space shapes

LESSONS FOR THIS UNIT
Lesson 1: The Face of a Shape
Lesson 2: Making Space Shapes
Lesson 3: Space Shape Museum

REPRODUCIBLES
Shape Faces (PDF)
Shape Chart (PDF)
Describe Your Shape (PDF)
Comparing Shapes (PDF)

CULMINATING ACTIVITY

The last lesson ends with a Venn Diagram (PDF) of space shapes. This lesson should allow the teacher to notice what the students have learned about the shapes. Students can compare the number of sides, corners, faces, or if the shape rolls or slides.

SUPPORTING BOOKS

Books and Resources for Teaching Geometry

Giddy-Up Kindergarten
The activities included are integrated across the curriculum thematically, focusing on the Old West.

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."
LESSON PLAN	Space Shape Museum Allows students to make a classroom museum made of household space shapes. The students find items from home and bring them in to create a museum.