Geometry and Crazy Hair!

We have started a math unit on geometry, beginning with lessons on 2- and 3-dimensional shapes.  We learned that 3-dimensional shapes have "faces", which are 2-dimensional.  We have also learned that polygons are closed 2-dimensional shapes with  straight sides.  Soon we will be sorting a special kind of polygon, called quadrilaterals, by looking at "square corners", or right angles.

For two of our recent math classes, students were able to use laptops to enhance their geometry learning.  Our school Portaportal page gave us access to two interactive websites which students used to explore geometric shapes.  You can access our school's Portaportal at home by clicking the link on this blog (to the right), or by going to www.portaportal.com and entering the password k5. 

Students worked alone and with partners on the laptops.

Using the Promethean Board added to the fun of playing
with shapes.

While some students used websites, others visited learning centers
with two geometry games: Mystery Block (shown here), and Find the Block.

Exploring how pattern blocks fit together to fill a shape...

Can you fill the same space using one, two, three, or four different
kinds of pattern blocks?

Students used different ways to keep track of their work, in order to
gather and glue on paper pattern block shapes to model how the
wooden shapes were used.

 

 

Experimenting with geometry during Choice Time...

 

And, to leave you with a smile...Crazy Hair and Hat Day!