Wanna know what I am writing about tonight?
Tis the season in my school district to teach about geometry. In second grade, we teach everything from basic shape identification to flips, turns, congruency, symmetry, vertices, and a lot more!
Geometry units did not use to be my favorite, but over the years, I have learned to sort of make it fun for me as well as my kids! Here are a few tricks of 'my' trade!!
1. Have students use their bodies to make <or at least try to make> shapes as you call them out. I use 'Simon Says' to do this! I might mix this with having them draw on paper or a dry erase board so I can make sure that they have a good idea of the characteristics of each shape.
2. Play "I Spy"...this can be done for both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional shapes.
3. When teaching 2-dimensional shapes, cut construction paper into fourths and have kids use glue and yarn to create the shapes. Tooth picks can also be used for some. Then, staple the fourths of the construction paper back together, add a cover, and you have a book about shapes.
4. Use pattern shapes to create bigger shapes. i.e. a flower, house, etc.
5. Use patterns to create 3-dimensional shapes.
6. Create a chart using the characteristics of each shape <number of vertices, faces, bases, sides, etc.>
7. Create a talley chart showing how many of each shape is spotted in the classroom.
8. Use pattern blocks to show how patterns can repeat. Use pictures from nature to show how patterns are used over and over <i.e. a honeycomb>
And....my favorite of all......
Edible Playdough!!!!
Edible playdough can be used to create both 2 and 3-dimensional shapes. I provide wax paper to cover the desk and give the students a small plastic cup to use as a rolling pin and a plastic knife to cut and trim. I have even given a quiz with this method!!! Click here to download the recipe that I use to make edible playdough! Caution: I would make extra since it will be so tempting to eat it!
If you get to use the edible playdough, let me know how it goes! It will probably become one of your favorite lessons!
If you are looking for something to put in your centers, I also have 2 brand new sets of geometry task cards that you can take a look at by clicking here and here or by clicking on the pictures below.
2nd grade Common Core: Geometry
Reason with shapes and their attributes.
1. Recognize and draw shapes having specified attributes, such as a given number of angles or a given number of equal faces. 1 Identify triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, and cubes.
1 Sizes are compared directly or visually, not compared by measuring.
Tis the season in my school district to teach about geometry. In second grade, we teach everything from basic shape identification to flips, turns, congruency, symmetry, vertices, and a lot more!
Geometry units did not use to be my favorite, but over the years, I have learned to sort of make it fun for me as well as my kids! Here are a few tricks of 'my' trade!!
1. Have students use their bodies to make <or at least try to make> shapes as you call them out. I use 'Simon Says' to do this! I might mix this with having them draw on paper or a dry erase board so I can make sure that they have a good idea of the characteristics of each shape.
2. Play "I Spy"...this can be done for both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional shapes.
3. When teaching 2-dimensional shapes, cut construction paper into fourths and have kids use glue and yarn to create the shapes. Tooth picks can also be used for some. Then, staple the fourths of the construction paper back together, add a cover, and you have a book about shapes.
4. Use pattern shapes to create bigger shapes. i.e. a flower, house, etc.
5. Use patterns to create 3-dimensional shapes.
6. Create a chart using the characteristics of each shape <number of vertices, faces, bases, sides, etc.>
7. Create a talley chart showing how many of each shape is spotted in the classroom.
8. Use pattern blocks to show how patterns can repeat. Use pictures from nature to show how patterns are used over and over <i.e. a honeycomb>
And....my favorite of all......
Edible Playdough!!!!
Edible playdough can be used to create both 2 and 3-dimensional shapes. I provide wax paper to cover the desk and give the students a small plastic cup to use as a rolling pin and a plastic knife to cut and trim. I have even given a quiz with this method!!! Click here to download the recipe that I use to make edible playdough! Caution: I would make extra since it will be so tempting to eat it!
If you get to use the edible playdough, let me know how it goes! It will probably become one of your favorite lessons!
If you are looking for something to put in your centers, I also have 2 brand new sets of geometry task cards that you can take a look at by clicking here and here or by clicking on the pictures below.
