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Private: Learning Math: Geometry
Classroom Case Studies, 3-5
This is the final session of the Geometry course! In this session, we will examine how geometry as a problem-solving process might look when applied to situations in your own classroom. This session is customized for three grade levels.
In This Grade Band
Part A: Geometry as a Problem-Solving Process
Part B: Developing Geometric Reasoning
Part C: Problems That Illustrate Geometric Reasoning
Homework
In the previous sessions, we explored geometry as a problem-solving process. You put yourself in the position of a mathematics learner, both to analyze your individual approach to solving problems and to get some insights into your own conception of geometric reasoning. It may have been difficult to separate your thinking as a mathematics learner from your thinking as a mathematics teacher. Not surprisingly, this is often the case! In this session, however, we will shift the focus to your own classroom and to the approaches your students might take to mathematical tasks involving geometry.
As in other sessions, you will be prompted to view short video segments throughout the session; you may also choose to watch the full-length video for this session. Note 1
Learning Objectives
In this session, you will do the following:
- Explore the development of geometric reasoning at your grade level, including the van Hiele model of geometric learning
- Review mathematical tasks and their connection to the mathematical themes in the course
- Examine children’s understanding of geometric concepts
Key Terms
Previously Introduced
Congruent: Congruent triangles are triangles that have the same size and shape. In particular, corresponding angles have the same measure, and corresponding sides have the same length.
Quadrilateral: A quadrilateral is a polygon with exactly four sides.
Rectangle: A rectangle is a quadrilateral with four right angles.
Regular Polygon: A regular polygon has sides that are all the same length and angles that are all the same size.
Similar: Two polygons are similar polygons if corresponding angles have the same measure and corresponding sides are in proportion.
Square: A square is a regular quadrilateral.
Triangle Inequality: The triangle inequality says that for three lengths to make a triangle, the sum of the lengths of any two sides must be greater than the third length.
Venn Diagram: A Venn diagram uses circles to represent relationships among sets of objects.
Vertex: A vertex is the point where two sides of a polygon meet.
New in This Session
Van Hiele Levels:
Van Hiele levels make up a theory of five levels of geometric thought developed by Dutch educators Pierre van Hiele and Dina van Hiele-Geldof. The levels are (0) visualization, (1) analysis, (2) informal deduction, (3) deduction, and (4) rigor. The theory is useful for thinking about what activities are appropriate for students, what activities prepare them to move to the next level, and how to design activities for students who may be at different levels.
Notes
Note 1
This session uses classroom case studies to examine how children in grades 3-5 think about and work with geometry. If possible, work on this session with another teacher or a group of teachers. A group discussion will allow you to use your own classroom and the classrooms of fellow teachers as case studies to make additional observations.
