Mathematics — Grade 4

Flipping around Pentominoes

The students will use Unifix cubes to create the twelve different pentominoes. The students will join 5 Unifix cubes to make different shapes that will lie flat on a table or level surface. The students will then test for new shapes by flipping, sliding, or turning to create each different pentomino.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Mathematics)

By Dianne Wingate.

Origami Geometry

Students apply their knowledge of geometric terms to follow directions while folding an origami sculpture. Students then solve math problems which relate to the project with follow-up discussions about the project relating to geometric terms such as symmetry, faces, edges, square, triangle, plane, etc.

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Mathematics)

By Cherl Hollada, Libby Morrison, Michelle Kaczynski, and Susan Pope.

Reflection Designs

Students will be able to illustrate the geometric transformation of a reflection through creating their own unique designs.

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Mathematics)

By Karen Boles.

Lesson plans on the web

Analyzing Designs

Using a “paper quilt” students explore the geometric transformations of rotation, reflection, and translation. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Visual Arts Education and Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Describing Designs

Students create designs and describe them to classmates using fractional and geometric terms. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 Visual Arts Education and Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Exploring Flips and Slides

Students explore the geometric transformations of reflection and translation. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 Visual Arts Education and Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Exploring properties of rectangles and parallelograms using dynamic software

In this example for e-math lessons, properties of rectangles and parallelograms are examined. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Exploring Turns

An activity of creating “paper quilts” allows students to explore the geometric transformation of rotation. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–4 Visual Arts Education and Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

How many triangles can you construct?

In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students identify patterns in a geometrical figure, build a foundation for the understanding of fractals, and develop experiments to test hypotheses. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Making a Mini-quilt

Students create a quilt using three transformations (reflection, rotation, and translation) and then investigate the ways shapes can be colored to show “one-half” and “one-fourth.” (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 Visual Arts Education and Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Paper quilts: Looking back and moving forward

In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students use mathematical knowledge and skills developed in the previous lessons to demonstrate understanding and ability to apply that knowledge to create a classroom display. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Planning a mini-quilt

In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students create a quilt using three transformations (reflection, rotation, and translation) and then investigate the ways shapes can be colored to show one-half and one-fourth. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

Rectangles and parallelograms

In this lesson, from Illuminations, students use dynamic software to examine the properties of rectangles and parallelograms and then identify what distinguishes a rectangle from a more general parallelogram. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3 Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

What's important about triangles?

In this lesson, one of a multi-part unit from Illuminations, students discover that it is not possible to construct some triangles from given lengths and that the sum of the lengths of any two sides must be greater than the length of the third side. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 4–5 Mathematics)

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

What's in a Shape?

By using tangram shapes children learn the relationships between shapes that two identical right isosceles triangles fit together to form a square. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Mathematics)

What's in a shape?

The purpose of this lesson, from Science NetLinks, is to explore characteristics of shapes by making and using tangram sets. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 3–5 Mathematics)

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science