Spotting Two Dimensional Shapes
Lesson 2 of 2
Objective: Students will be able to 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.
Before this lesson begins students should already have knowledge of the following vocabulary:
- vertices - corners of the shape where 2 line segments meet to form an angle vertex and sides.docx
- sides - line segments that connect end-to-end
To activate prior knowledge, I display shapes that students have already learned. As I hold up each shape, I ask them to tell me the shape I am holding up. I ask them do they know any different kind of shapes other than solid figures we have learned about.
Now, I say there are many different kinds of shapes in the world of math. Each shape has its own special traits. I ask what would happen to the solid shapes if they were transformed into 2- dimensional shapes. This will help students connect 2- dimensional shapes to what they already know about solid figure shapes.
Then, we compare the similarities and differences between shapes we have learned about and 2-dimensional shapes.
We used a rectangle and a pentagon to do the comparison. What pattern do you see? How many sides? Are both shapes completely flat? How many vertices?
I point out:
A 2-dimensional shape is completely flat.
My goal is for students to see the similarities and differences between shapes we have already learned about and 2-dimensional shapes, so they will be able to identify 2-dimensional shapes.
This lesson will focus on the following Mathematical Practices:
MP.2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
MP.4. Model with mathematics.
MP.5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
MP.7. Look for and make use of structure.
In this portion of the lesson I ask students to move to their assigned partner. I explain, that they will be doing a teacher model , and do activity. My students understand that this means they need to focus as I model.
I ask students to draw a two-dimensional shape with 3 sides in the first box. I provide struggling students with dotted paper, so that they can use the corners to make straight lines. Students who are more on target are allowed to use their rulers.
What is the name of the shape you drew?
Can you explain?
Students seem to understand when describing shapes it is called attributes.
I ask students to draw a two-dimensional shape with 4 sides. I notice students who did not quite get it the first time follow the same process as above. Did anyone draw a rectangle? Did anyone get anything different? Explain? As students are explaining other shapes with 4 sides, I focus their attention to similarities and differences among two-dimensional shapes.
I quickly review the name of each 2-dimensional shape. (Triangle, Quadrilateral, pentagon, and hexagon).
As I review the names I hold up each shape in my hand, and ask students to count aloud as I point to each side of the shape. Then, I ask students to count aloud as I pointed to each vertex of the given shape.
2-Dimensional shapes have:
- vertices - corners of the shape where 2 line segments meet to form an angle
- sides - line segments that connect end-to-end
My goal is to build some background knowledge before we began working together on correctly identifying the shape and the number of sides and vertices.
Next I bring students to the carpet area and ask them what do they notice about 2-dimensional shapes? Their response should be: it is flat. If students are unable to notice that 2-dimensional shapes are flat. Tell them explain that if a blanket is placed on top of a 2-dimensional shape (like a sheet of paper), the blanket will lay flat.
(Please demonstrate, so that students can visually see that you can identify 2-dimensional shapes because they are flat.)
Then, we discuss how to determine the correct number of vertices and sides there are for each given shape. My goal is for them to be able to correctly identify and tell the correct number of vertices and sides of two dimensional shapes on their own.
As I pick up each shape, I ask students to count the number of sides and vertices of each shape. Then, I ask students how do you know it is a 2-diminsional shape?
I repeat this activity until a level of understanding is reached.
Show Your Work!
Before we begin independent practice, students are presented with a math practice question. Students who are able to provide the correct answer for the given question will be able to continue on to their independent practice. They will be reminded to show their work. The goal is to have independent workers apply what they know about 2-dimensional shapes to correctly identify the given shape and list the number of sides and vertices.
For the remainder of the students who did not give the correct response to the given question, we will repeat the lesson in the collaborative section of this lesson until a level of understanding is reached. These students will be given their own math manipulatives so they can examine each shape on their own. They will also use the shapes to count the number of sides and vertices and chart them on their record sheet.
Students will work on this activity for about twenty minutes. As they are working, I will circle the room and take anecdotal notes to use for re-teaching purposes, and to check for understanding.