LEARN NC

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

Rectangles and parallelograms

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L350

A lesson plan for Grade 3 Mathematics

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

About this resource

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

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Students use dynamic software to examine the properties of rectangles and parallelograms and identify what distinguishes a rectangle from a more general parallelogram. Using spatial relationships, they will examine the properties of two-and three-dimensional shapes. Illuminations provides activity sheets and a link to the applet necessary in completing the lesson. After students examine the differences between parallelograms and rectangles, they work together to categorize the characteristics of both. Then students use the interactive applet to manipulate the shapes.

Students will:

  • Identify, compare, and analyze attributes of rectangles and parallelograms through physical and mental manipulation.

NCTM Standards and Expectations covered in this lesson include:

  • Investigating, describing, and reasoning about the results of subdividing, combining, and transforming shapes.
  • Making and testing conjectures about geometric properties and relationships and develop logical arguments to justify conclusions.

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 4

  • Goal 3: Geometry - The learner will recognize and use geometric properties and relationships.
    • Objective 3.03: Identify, predict, and describe the results of transformations of plane figures.
      • Reflections.
      • Translations.
      • Rotations.

Grade 5

  • 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 3.02: Make and test conjectures about polygons involving:
      • Sum of the measures of interior angles.
      • Lengths of sides and diagonals.
      • Parallelism and perpendicularity of sides and diagonals.
    • 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.