LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Getting to know the shapes

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L650

A lesson plan for Grade 3 and 5 Mathematics

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

About this resource

Appropriate grades
3 and 5
Subjects
mathematics (applied mathematics, geometry)
Provider
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

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In this lesson, students discover the uses of geometry and measurement in the world of architecture as they are introduced to the clubhouse project. After reading How a House is Built by Gail Gibbons and Building a House by Byron Barton, students sort plane and solid figures using an activity sheet. Then, students explore vocabulary relating to two- and three-dimensional shapes. Finally, students locate all geometric shapes using architectural drawings and discuss how they would design their dream clubhouse. Illuminations provides activity sheets, detailed instructions, and suggestions for texts to be used with the lesson.

Students will:

  • Classify two- and three-dimensional shapes according to their properties and develop definitions of classes of shapes such as triangles and pyramids by sorting pictures or solids into two categories.
  • Identify two-dimensional and three-dimensional shapes in real life architectures.
  • Identify, compare, and analyze attributes of two- and three-dimensional shapes and develop vocabulary.

NCTM Standards and Expectations:

  • Classify two- and three-dimensional shapes according to their properties and develop definitions of classes of shapes such as triangles and pyramids.
  • Identify, compare, and analyze attributes of two- and three-dimensional shapes and develop vocabulary to describe the attributes.

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 3.01: Use appropriate vocabulary to compare, describe, and classify 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.

Grade 5

  • Goal 3: Geometry - The learner will understand and use properties and relationships of plane figures.
    • 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.