Lesson Plan
Illustrative Mathematics

What is a Trapezoid? (Part 2)

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
This collaborative activity investigates the meaning of a trapezoid and a parallelogram. It begins by presenting two different definitions of a trapezoid. Learners are to reason abstractly the difference between the two definitions and...
Lesson Plan
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Illustrative Mathematics

3-D Shape Sort

For Teachers K - 2nd Standards
From the apple on your desk and the coffee cup in your hand, to the cabinets along the classroom wall, basic three-dimensional shapes are found everywhere in the world around us. Introduce young mathematicians to the these common figures...
Lesson Plan
World Wildlife Fund

Shapes

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
Investigate the properties of three-dimensional figures with this Arctic-themed math lesson. Beginning with a class discussion about different types of solid figures present in the classroom, young mathematicians are then given a...
Lesson Plan
Illustrative Mathematics

Grandfather Tang's Story

For Teachers K - 2nd Standards
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...
Unit Plan
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Virginia Department of Education

Exploring 3-D Geometry

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Take young mathematicians on an exploration of the world of 3-D geometry with this seven-lesson unit. After first defining the terms perimeter, area, and volume and how they apply to the real world, students continue on...
Unit Plan
Partnership for Educating Colorado Students

Mayan Mathematics and Architecture

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
Take young scholars on a trip through history with this unit on the mathematics and architecture of the Mayan civilization. Starting with a introduction to their base twenty number system and the symbols they used, this eight-lesson unit...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Basic Right Triangles

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Elementary schoolers examine the attributes of triangles. In this triangle lesson, learners compare regular triangles and right triangles. They explore vertices and angles and investigate obtuse and acute angles. Pupils draw multiple...
Lesson Plan
Fayetteville Public Schools

I've Seen That Shape Before

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd Standards
The objectives in the resource allow young scholars to explore the characteristics of simple solid shapes. Youngsters learn to recognize the face shapes, corners, and edges that make up 3-D figures by filling in a chart....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's a 3-D World Out There!

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Orbital path of Landsat

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students comprehend how Landsat satellites orbit teh Earth to produce images. They comprehend the elliptical path of satellites. Students recognize that a different orbital path is needed for different satellites to perform their tasks....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What do two-dimensional tessellations look like? Where in art can they be found?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explore the world of art and culture, including the works of M.C. Escher. They identify and create original tessellations. Students use a wealth of interactive multimedia applications. They explore the artistic representations...
Lesson Plan
National Security Agency

Classifying Triangles

For Teachers 4th - 8th Standards
Building on young mathematicians' prior knowledge of three-sided shapes, this lesson series explores the defining characteristics of different types of triangles. Starting with a shared reading of the children's book The Greedy...
Lesson Plan
National Gallery of Canada

My Treehouse

For Teachers K - 3rd
If you could build your own treehouse, what would it look like? Using a piece of contemporary art as inspiration, learners draw their own treehouses and add geometric and organic shapes. The lesson touches on Visual Thinking Strategies...
Performance
Radford University

Coal Silo Design Task

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The coal is mined. Now what? Scholars design a coal silo that stores mined earth using at least two different three-dimensional shapes. They calculate the volume, determine the amount of mined earth produced in a day, and find the amount...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Art or Junk? Discovering the Triangle Inequality

For Teachers 6th
Middle schoolers study the triangle inequality. They will identify, compare, and analyze attributes of two and three-dimensional shapes. Then they develop vocabulary to describe the attributes. They also use manipulatives to analyze the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

O Greek Shape! O Fair Pose!

For Teachers 7th - Higher Ed
Students analyze the black-figure painting style of ancient Greece and its influence on Neoclassical artists during the 18th century, as seen in drawing, painting and silhouettes, or shadow portraits. In this ancient art...
Unit Plan
Arizona Department of Education

Area and Perimeter of Regular and Irregular Polygons

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shapes to Forms

For Teachers 1st
Here is a math lesson that is really a visual arts lesson in disguise! In it, pupils utilize their knowledge of geometric shapes and forms to create a detailed version of a cylinder. The instructions on how to go about the task are very...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geometry and Quilting

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Young scholars 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...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Surface Area and Volume

For Teachers 9th - 11th Standards
Partners use materials to wrap three-dimensional objects to determine the formula for surface area. The groups use an orange to calculate the amount of peel it takes to completely cover the fruit. Using manipulatives, individuals then...
Lesson Plan
American Institute of Physics

African American Inventors in History

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
A two-part lesson introduces young historians to the work of famous African American inventors. Groups first research and develop a presentation of an inventor that includes biographical information and information about one of their...
Lesson Plan
National Security Agency

Awesome Area - Geometry and Measurement

For Teachers 2nd - 4th Standards
Break out those math manipulatives, it's time to teach about area! Capturing the engagement of young mathematicians, this three-lesson series supports children with learning how to measure the area of squares, rectangles, and other...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Fish Forms

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd Standards
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, you can add art to any lesson! While little learners are discovering why fish have specific body parts such as, scales, fins, and gills, they start making three-dimensional fish forms. Children...
Lesson Plan
National Gallery of Canada

To Canada with Love

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Focus on line and color with a postcard project. Learners view various works of art and discuss line and color before moving on to creating their own work. Using nature as inspiration, pupils decorate postcards and mail them after...