Polygons
Objective: Students will be able to learn about the characteristics of parallelograms.
Activity-Ask students to find examples of quadrilaterals in the community. They should list and draw several of the quadrilaterals they find. Examples include road signs, the faces of buildings such as malls and office buildings, and the sides of columns on some buildings, windows, and plazas.
Objective: Students will be able to learn about the characteristics of trapezoids.
Activity-Ask small groups of students to draw a trapezoid and label it. Have groups write a complete and formal proof to show that the sum of the measures of the angles in their trapezoid is 360 degrees. Ask groups to volunteer to present their proofs to the class and explain their reasoning.
Activity-Ask students to find examples of trapezoids at home. They should list and draw several of the trapezoids they find and describe their uses. Have them share their findings with their family members and describe the trapezoids remembering all that they learned.
Objective: Students will be able to construct parallel lines.
Activity-Tell students to find places in or around their homes where it is important to know that two lines area parallel, for example, opposite sides of a door frame, fence posts, etc. Tell them to report on where the parallel lines are found and why it is important that they are parallel.
Activity-Instruct students to visit or call their local county surveyor or a similar office. Have them report on the methods used by employees to construct parallel lines and why it is necessary in their work to know for certain that lines are parallel. Tell students to include a description of some of the objects that this office uses parallel lines to represent.
Activity-Have students choose and research a job or career such as architect, surveyor, or builder that involves constructing parallel lines. Students should find out about the type of work involved and the training or education required.
Objective: Students will be able to determine if a shape is a polygon or not.
Activity-Ask students to find examples of polygons in quilts or other objects made of fabric. Tell them to choose one and provide a written description of the work, including how polygons are used, who the artist or craftsperson is, and when the work was created. Craft books often include pictures of quilts and other artwork that uses geometric shapes.
Activity-Have pairs of students make a set of 3-by-5 cards with various shapes on them, some polygons, some not polygons. They can take turns identifying shapes that are polygons and those that are not and explaining why the shapes are or are not polygons.