Unfortunately for young mathematicians, the world isn't made entirely of parallelograms, triangles, and trapezoids. After first learning the area formulas for these common shapes, students apply this new knowledge to...

Building on young mathematicians' prior knowledge of three-sided shapes, this lesson plan series explores the defining characteristics of different types of triangles. Starting with a shared reading of the children's book The Greedy...

Elementary schoolers examine the attributes of triangles. For this triangle lesson, learners compare regular triangles and right triangles. They explore vertices and angles and investigate obtuse and acute angles. Pupils draw multiple...

All shapes have certain defining attributes that set them apart from others. In order to understand this, young mathematicians look at examples and non-examples of triangles, rectangles, and squares, working as a whole class to create...

A geometry module connects algebraic reasoning to geometry. It challenges scholars to investigate the slope criteria for parallel and perpendicular lines, prove theorems involving coordinate geometry, and write equations for circles and...

Students create a quilt square for a class quilt using at least three, two-dimensional geometric figures. They research and write a brief description of at least two different quilt patterns that they find. Pupils discuss that quilts are...

Extend young mathematicians' understanding of area with a geometry lesson on trapezoids. Building on their prior knowledge of rectangles and triangles, students learn how to calculate the area of trapezoids and other...

Young mathematicians build an understanding of area and perimeter with their own two hands in a series of interactive geometry lessons. Through the use of different math manipulatives, children investigate the properties of...

Students identify attributes in real-life objects and models of solids and connect these attributes to characteristics of shapes such as circles, triangles, squares, and other rectangles. They discuss the ability of the object to roll,...

It's amazing the complex figures that can be made using only a few simple shapes. Following a class reading of the children's book Grandfather Tang's Story by Ann Tompert, young mathematicians use sets of tangrams to create models...

Don't be obtuse, this geometry unit is the just the right resource for educating the acute young minds in your class. From classifying and measuring angles, to determining the congruence of shapes, this...

Fifth graders discover lines of symmetry for shapes and everyday objects. In this lines of symmetry activity, 5th graders use a butterfly outline to find lines of symmetry. Students analyze everyday objects for symmetry and use...

Your learners connect the new concepts of transformations in the coordinate plane to their previous knowledge using the solid vocabulary development in this unit. Like a foreign language, mathematics has its own set of vocabulary terms...

Learners use pattern blocks and triangular grid paper to review shape names, be introduced to the concept of a tiling of the plane, and determine which pattern blocks tile the plane. They are asked: "Have you ever seen a floor or a wall...

Scholars use interactive resources to figure out how to mathematically draw a reflection of a geometric shape viewed in a mirror. To conclude the activity, class members are asked to deduce the result of multiple reflections across...

Most adults remember learning about the Pythagorean theorem, but they don't all remember how to use it. The emphasis here is on developing an intuitive understanding of how and when to use the theorem. Young mathematicians explore...

What properties does area possess? Solidify the area properties that pupils learned in previous years. Groups investigate the five properties using four problems, which then provide the basis for a class discussion.

In addition to the catchy title, this lesson plan provides upper graders an opportunity to more closely scrutinize the attributes of plane figures. In particular, they focus on the similarity of different shapes. Both whole-class and...

Students construct polygons. They identify attributes of three-dimensional shapes. Students name common three-dimensional shapes. They draw three-dimensional shapes, and sort three-dimensional shapes. Students use K'NEX materials sets to...

Junior geometers discover that polygons can be decomposed into triangles and that the number of triangles can be determined by a rule. Note that the Geometer’s Sketchpad® software is required to carry out all components of this...

Students scan the classroom to find different common shapes. They listen as the teacher defines polygon and regular polygon. The teacher demonstrates regular polygons via the Internet and the "Math is Fun" web site. Students go outside...

Third graders use pattern blocks of one shape at a time to try to create a similar shape. They compare the perimeter of the new figure with the perimeter of the original shape and look for a pattern. Students use the pattern to predict...

Fifth graders use formal geometric language to describe polygons (and other shapes) that will tessellate the plane and those that will not. Students make generalizations about the characteristics of a polygon (or other shape) that will...

Learners examine the properties of quadrilaterals from the point of view of rigid motion. Different types of quadrilaterals are characterized by their symmetries, so learners explore the symmetries of a described quadrilateral to...