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http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L408

A lesson plan for Grades 3–5 Mathematics

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

About this resource

Appropriate grades
3–5
Subjects
mathematics (geometry)
Provider
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

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In this lesson, the teacher guides students through a discovery of geometry. Students explore Euler's Theorem, a way of calculating the number of faces, edges, and vertices of geometric solids.

Students will:

  • Identify, compare, and analyze attributes of two- and three-dimensional shapes and develop vocabulary to describe the attributes.
  • Use geometric models to solve problems in other areas of mathematics, such as number and measurement.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 3

  • Goal 3: Geometry - The learner will recognize and use basic geometric properties of two- and three-dimensional figures.
    • Objective 3.02: Use a rectangular coordinate system to solve problems.
      • Graph and identify points with whole number and/or letter coordinates.
      • Describe the path between given points on the plane.
  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use data and simple probability concepts.
    • Objective 4.01: Collect, organize, analyze, and display data (including circle graphs and tables) to solve problems.

Grade 4

  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use graphs, probability, and data analysis.

Grade 5

  • Goal 2: Measurement - The learner will recognize and use standard units of metric and customary measurement.
    • Objective 2.02: Identify, estimate, and measure the angles of plane figures using appropriate tools.
  • Goal 3: Geometry - The learner will understand and use properties and relationships of plane figures.
    • Objective 3.01: Identify, define, describe, and accurately represent triangles, quadrilaterals, and other polygons.
    • Objective 3.04: Solve problems involving the properties of triangles, quadrilaterals, and other polygons.
      • Sum of the measures of interior angles.
      • Lengths of sides and diagonals.
      • Parallelism and perpendicularity of sides and diagonals.
  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use graphs and data analysis.
    • Objective 4.02: Compare and contrast different representations of the same data; discuss the effectiveness of each representation.