Geometry Session 10: Classroom Case Studies

Session 10, Part C:
Activities That Illustrate Geometric Reasoning

In This Part: Cutting Corners Activity | Shape-Sorting Activities

Here are several short activities designed for students in grades K-2. Answer questions a-e about these activities.

Shape Sort #1
Ask students to sort the shapes below into groups that are alike in some way.

Problem C2

a.	What is the geometry content in this activity?
b.	What skills do students need to work through this activity? What skills will this activity help them develop for later work?
c.	What level of geometric thinking is expected of students in the activity? Does it ask students to bridge levels?
d.	What other questions might extend students' thinking about the activity?
e.	Describe a lesson that you could develop based on the content of this activity.



Shape Sort #2 Ask students to sort shapes by naming properties, not by naming the shapes. When two or more properties are combined, have them sort by one property at a time. Example: "Find all of the shapes that have four sides." (Find these.) "Now find those that also have all right angles." (This group should include squares as well as non-square rectangles.) After sorting, discuss what the name of the shapes is. Also try sorting by the same combination of properties but in a different order.

Problem C3

a.	What is the geometry content in this activity?
b.	What skills do students need to work through this activity? What skills will this activity help them develop for later work?
c.	What level of geometric thinking is expected of students in the activity? Does it ask students to bridge levels?
d.	What other questions might extend students' thinking about the activity?
e.	Describe a lesson that you could develop based on the content of this activity.

Shape-Sorting activities adapted from Van de Walle, John A. Geometric Thinking and Geometric Concepts. In Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally, 4th ed. pp. 342-349. Copyright © 2001 by Pearson Education. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

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