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.