UNIT TITLE: Geometry Around Us

Author: Tammy Vermeire
E-Mail Address:  vermeiret@mokena159.net
School: Mokena Junior High : Mokena, IL
School Home Page URL:  www.mokena159.net

THEME: Geometry is Real

BROAD CONCEPT: Citizenship

GRADES: 7

INTEGRATED SUBJECTS: Math, Language Arts, Technology, Art

UNIT GOALS AND PURPOSE:

 In this unit students will make a connection between triangles, quadrilaterals, symmetry and the real world.  They will be given opportunities to explore their own world and the world of the internet.  By producing a book to teach geometry to first graders, they will gain a sense of community service as well as demonstrate their own understanding of the concepts they learned.

TIME FRAME:  10-12 days 

OBJECTIVES:

In this lesson, students will:

MATERIALS:

__Word Processing (ex. MS Word)           __Spreadsheet (ex. MS Excel)

__ Multimedia (ex. MS PowerPoint/Kid Pix)     __Drawing (ex. Paint)

__Millie’s Math House

STATE STANDARDS ADDRESSED BY THIS UNIT:

9.A.3c Use concepts of symmetry, congruency, similarity, scale, perspective, and angles to describe and analyze two- and three-dimensional shapes found in practical applications (e.g., geodesic domes, A-frame house, basketball courts, inclined planes, art forms, blueprints).

 

9.B.3 Identify, describe, classify and compare two- and three- dimensional geometric figures and models according to their properties.

 

3.C.3b Using available technology, produce compositions and multimedia works for specified audiences.

 

N.C.T.M. STANDARDS ADDRESSED BY THIS UNIT:

 

 

 

STUDENT ACTIVITIES WHICH WILL PROMOTE ENGAGED LEARNING:

Lesson 1:  Students will be introduced to the unit “Geometry Around Us”.  A discussion will be led that includes questions like what is geometry and where can we find it?  A list of geometric terms that students already know will be made and posted in the room for future reference.  The Character Counts pillar of citizenship will also be emphasized in this unit.  A discussion will be led about how students will create a citizenship poster that has symmetry and write a geometric story for 1st graders. Citizenship will be defined and discussed so that all students are comfortable with the term.  The book The Greedy Triangle will be read to the class to give them a starting point for creating their own book.

Lesson 2:  Using geoboards, students will be asked to create triangles.  A class discussion will be led that compares and contrasts the different triangles.  These relationships will be recorded and the discussion will lead to the six different kinds of triangles and their properties.  Next, students will draw a triangle.  Using a protractor, each student will measure the three angles of their triangle and have one other person measure it as a check.  The angle measures will be recorded on a spreadsheet that is displayed by an LCD projector.  The spreadsheet will then be used to show the students that the three angles of a triangle always have a sum of 180°.  Students will then be asked to find the missing angle measure of given triangles.  To relate this lesson to the real world students will be expected to find an example of each kind of triangle at home and be prepared to share their findings with the class the next day.

Lesson 3:   After a discussion about the triangles students found at home, the class will examine quadrilaterals.  Large cardboard cutouts will be displayed in the room and students will be asked to compare and contrast the examples.  After a list of characteristics has been made, students will go to the computer and work in groups to make an organized table of their findings.  To do this activity students will create a table in Word or use the already made chart in Excel.  The completed chart should include each of the quadrilaterals and indicate which of the properties pertains to its definition.  For example, a rectangle has four right angles, two pairs of parallel sides, and opposite sides are congruent.  Students will print these and compare their table with the rest of  the class.  Corrections should be made as the class discusses and decides what should go with each quadrilateral.  Students will then be asked to look for examples of each quadrilateral at home and be ready to share their findings with the class.

Lesson 4:  Class will begin with students sharing about the quadrilaterals they found at home.  Symmetry will be introduced and discussed.  The teacher will share examples of line and rotational symmetry.  Students will use the word processor to type the alphabet.  The font style should be Times New Roman and the size should be 48.  Using the segment tool, students will draw all lines of symmetry for each letter.  A discussion will follow that includes questions like can you create a word that has vertical symmetry and which letters have rotational symmetry?  Next students will draw each of the quadrilaterals and draw all lines of symmetry and figure out the rotational symmetry for each shape.  After a brief discussion about the quadrilaterals, students will go online to view quilt designs at the Wendolonia website.  These symmetrical designs can be used to generate ideas for the students’ citizenship posters.  To wrap up this lesson students will be asked to bring in one object from home that has symmetry.

            Lesson 5:  Students will begin the citizenship poster project in this lesson.  To generate symmetrical ideas, students will share the objects they brought from home with the class.  The citizenship poster must have a symmetrical design.  It will include a slogan, a poem, a drawing, a photograph, etc. that will encourage peers to be good citizens.  The posters should be creative, appealing to the eye and neat.  Posters will be displayed in the halls for everyone to see.  The poster size can range from 8 x10 inches to 25 x35 inches.  Students will be encouraged to use the word processor, KidPix and/or a drawing program.  Other mediums may include paint, markers, crayons, charcoal, etc.  Students will be given two class days to work on this project and it will be due on the following day (Lesson 7).

Lesson 6:  This day will be used to work on the citizenship poster project.  The teacher will be available to facilitate and guide students through their projects.  Students that do not finish in class will need to complete the poster at home and bring it to class the next day.

Lesson 7:  Citizenship poster projects are due today.  Students will be going on a geometry scavenger hunt at Imagination Station today.  Imagination Station is a playground that was built by the community with the leadership of the local PTA organization. The purpose of this scavenger hunt is to show students another example of “real” geometry. Students will be divided into pairs and given a list of twenty geometric terms.  The task is to find an example of each term at the playground.  Students will need to explain or draw what they see.  When finished, teams will gather at the playground to compare their findings and then so a quick clean up of the playground to promote citizenship.

Lesson 8:  In this lesson students will go on an internet scavenger hunt.  Students will use the list from lesson 7 and work with the same partner.  The purpose of this scavenger hunt is for students to not only find examples of real geometry but to also find pictures and ideas for the geometry books they will be writing for the first graders.  The following websites will be good starting places:  Building the Windy City, Symmetry Around the World and Architecture Through the Ages Photo Album.  Students should bookmark sites that look useful and save images that might be used in their books.

Lesson 9:  Students will begin their geometry books for the first graders in this lesson.  In order to get ideas on appropriate style and presentation for that age level the teacher will demonstrate the geometry section of Millie’s Math House on the LCD and have primary level books available for students to peruse  The first step will be to map out an idea and sketch the basics of each page.  Once the sketch of the book is completed, students will use KidPix or PowerPoint to create it.  The book should teach a geometric concept, show the relationship between geometry and the world or use geometry to teach citizenship.

Lessons 10 - 12:  Students will continue work on their books.  All students should be ready to begin using the multimedia software by the end of lesson 10.  Discovery School’s Clip Art Gallery might be helpful.  The teacher will facilitate and guide students to completion of their books.   Books will be saved on a disk and printed by the student. 

 

SHARE YOUR IDEAS:

Students will have two opportunities to share what they learn about geometry in our world.  The symmetrical citizenship poster students create will be displayed in the commons area during citizenship month.  The multimedia presentations that are created will be printed and bound into books that will be shared with the first graders.  A rubric for these projects follows:

CITIZENSHIP POSTER RUBRIC

Points

Citizenship Message

10

Design demonstrates line and rotational symmetry

25

Attractive to the eye

10

Neatness

5

TOTAL

50

 

 

GEOMETRY BOOK RUBRIC

Points

Colorful illustrations

5

Neatness

5

Cover page includes title and author

5

Age appropriate language is used

5

Proper usage of language mechanics, spelling and grammar 

5

Book has a beginning/introduction

5

Content flows well

10

Book has an ending/closing

5

Content teaches a geometric concept

20

Author relates geometry to the real world

15

Citizenship is addressed through pictures or words

5

Multimedia software is used to produce book

10

A printed copy of the book is turned into teacher for publishing

5

TOTAL

100

 

STUDENT AND TEACHER ROLES:

 
Students will be active learners.  Geoboards and technology will be used to keep the students engaged in the learning activities.  Properties of geometric shapes will be explored and discovered.  Students will produce a book that can be used to teach children at lower grade levels about geometry.

The teacher will be the facilitator.  Students will be asked probing questions in order to guide them to discoveries and answers.

 

ADDITIONAL REFERENCE PRINT RESOURCES STUDENTS MAY USE :

World Book Encyclopedia
 

THE FOLLOWING BOOKS CONTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TOPIC:

The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns
The Silly Swamp of Shapes by Wes Ware

FOR ADDITIONAL ONLINE INFORMATION AND MEDIA PERTAINING TO THIS UNIT, TEACHERS MAY WANT TO USE THE FOLLOWING INTERNET ARTICLES: 

Title1: Mathematics: Applications & Connections

URL1: www.glencoe.com/sec/math/mac/mathnet

Description1: A Glencoe textbook link that offers extended activities.
 
 

Title2: Inquiry Almanac Minutes from ME

URL2: http://www.fi.edu/qa97/me3/

Description2: A reflection activity using the alphabet to create a “coded” message. 

RELEVANT INFORMATION, STUDENTS WILL VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEB SITES:

Title1: Wendolonia: Quilts a go-go

URL1: http://users.lanminds.com/%7Edaisy/quilts.htm#block

Purpose of Use1: Students will use this site to view examples of symmetrical designs.

Description1: This site holds a collection of quilt designs that demonstrate line and rotational symmetry.
 
 

Title2: Architecture Through the Ages Photo Album

URL2: http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/3786/album.html

Purpose of Use2: Students will use this site to view geometric concepts in famous buildings.

Description2: Photo album that contains photographs of famous buildings throughout history
 
 

Title3: Building the Windy City

URL3: http://library.thinkquest.org/J002846/

Purpose of Use3: To find geometric concepts in the buldings of our own Chicago

Description3: Pictures and trivia about the buildings of Chicago and their architects.  The site also includes a game section where the user can take a quiz about the buildings of Chicago.
 
 
 

Title4: Discovery School’s Clip Art Gallery

URL4: http://school.discovery.com/clipart/

Purpose of Use4: To have access to another clipart gallery for the multimedia project

Description4: This site contains clipart appropriate for school-related projects.
 
 
 

Title5: Symmetry and Pattern  The Art of Oriental Carpets

URL5: http://forum.swarthmore.edu/geometry/rugs/index.html

 

Purpose of Use5: To locate examples of  geometric concepts in the real world

Description5: This site has a good explanation of symmetry and patterns along with an oriental rug gallery which offers an explanation of how each design was created.
 
 
 

Title6: Symmetry Around the World

URL6: http://www.schools.ash.org.au/stkierans-manly/Classes/Yr6/6B/Symmetry/index.htm

Purpose of Use6: To find examples of geometry in a wide variety of topics

Description6: A slide presentation that teaches symmetry and other geometric concepts using real examples.