Author: kfair

• The link below provides ample opportunities to assessing student understanding of basic and advanced properties of geometry at the first grade level.  The activities are designed to simultaneously engage and produce evaluation information of student performance and understanding and this is a huge time saver which creates more time for learning to occur.  Rubrics and other assessment ideas are provided.  A few examples of lessons with integrated assessment tools include:  

Lesson 6:   We’re The Same!

What do I Really Know About My Shapes?

Shapes, Shapes, Everywhere! 

http://www.mcrel.org/pdf/curriculum/5021cm_shapes.pdf 

• The link below provides various lesson plans for first grade geometry.   Lessons of interest include: 

Folding Shapes: Are the Sides the Same?

“The Greedy Triangle”

Geometric Shapes using Kid Pix software

Shape Sheet

Shapes found in an African Village 

Most lessons provide ideas for evaluating student understanding.  Additionally, the link offers a collection of Inspirational Teacher Stories submitted by educators and information about the online teaching resource, The HotChalk Learning Environment.                

http://www.lessonplanspage.com/MathK1.htm 

• The link below provides ample information for first grade geometry.  This website is full of valuable resources for teachers, students, and parents made available by Houghton Mifflin Math.  Examples of resource items for supporting instruction include vocabulary cards, visual support, e-glossary, e-games, graphic organizers, teaching models, background information, weekly reader connections, and worksheets specific to topic and by any of the following:  practice, reteach, enrichment, homework, problem solving, and English Learners.  A great resource!!!       

http://www.eduplace.com/math/index.jsp 

• The link below provides a customizable, downloadable, worksheet generator for supporting geometry activities and more!     

http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=205  

• The link below is provided by the VDOE and it relates to Elementary Mathematics.  Instructional resources, recommended links to outside resources, and reputable professional organizations are included.  An ample supply of valuable information can be found here   

 http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/elementary_school/math/index.shtml

The five websites included to encourage student exploration and learning are: 

·         Weekly Reader Connections: Grade One, provided by Houghton Mifflin Math: 

http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmm/wr/wr_1.html  

The above link is age-level appropriate and allows for further exploration of geometry to occur.  Specific to geometry, there are 3 online activities and the titles are Shape Pictures, All Colors, Shapes, and Sizes, and Pick the Flowers.  The first activity expands students’ awareness of shapes found in art or in our everyday lives.  The second relates to identifying how the lollipops are the same based on shape, size, and color.  The last activity asks students to identify the pattern that comes next in a given sequence.   

·         Harcourt Math Glossary, Grade One:

http://www.harcourtschool.com/glossary/math_advantage/glossary1.html  

This link provides age-appropriate definitions or illustrations of mathematical terms.  It is easy for students to navigate through and explore different terms.         ·        

A Math Dictionary for Kids by Jenny Eather:

http://www.amathsdictionaryforkids.com/  

The above link is a comprehensive list of mathematical terms.  The provided definitions are wordy but well-described and great for guiding class discussions.  Additionally, pictures are provided to enhance definitions.   

·         Math Curriculum Guide for On-line Games:

http://www.primarygames.com/curriculum/math.htm  

The above link is age appropriate and provides a wide range of games for students that enhance knowledge and skills in math.  Games focus directly on geometry for first grade are Four Piece Tangram, Shape Sorter (similar to Concentration), Shape Inlay, Flip It Frenzy, Evan Almighty Arketris (similar to Tetris), and Space Station.   

·         Shape Concentration by NCTM Illuminations:

http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=73 

Shape Concentration enhances students’ creations of mental images by using spatial memory and visualization.  The game is designed for 1 or 2 players.  Students can play with a transparent or solid blind. 

·         Geometric Solids by NCTM Illuminations:

http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=70 

This on-line tool allows students to manipulate various solid shapes by size, color, position, and transparency.  Additionally, the number of faces, edges, and vertices is explored.  Identifying plane shapes through solid shapes is further connected.   

The topic is plane geometric shapes or basic geometry and the selected resources listed and briefly summarized below are directly related to accomplishing the learning objectives provided by the VA SOLs.  Grade 1 is the level and the associating SOLs are 1.12 and 1.13.  Additionally, solid geometric shapes such as the sphere, cube, cone, cylinder, pyramid, and rectangular prism will be explored to show similarities and differences when comparing, relating, and recalling prior knowledge of plane geometric shapes. 

The five books included to directly foster student learning of basic geometry are:

• “The Greedy Triangle” by Marilyn Burns and illustrated by Gordon Silveria
  • A great tool for guiding class discussions on attributes of shapes and enhancing geometry vocabulary, to say the least.  Also, the book is good for captivating students’ interest.  The silly story is full of excitement and colorful fun illustrations.  It’s an even greater resource knowing that Marilyn Burns is the author.  She provides ideas for extending student’s learning at the end of the book.  
  • AMAZON link:  http://www.amazon.com/Greedy-Triangle-Scholastic-Bookshelf-Marilyn/dp/0545042208/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272265647&sr=1-1
• “Three Pigs, One Wolf, and Seven Magic Shapes” by Grace Maccarone and illustrated by David Neuhaus
  • This book is of a modern day tale of the three little pigs and the big bad wolf.  Students will be pleasantly surprised as the story unveils an interestingly happy ending!  The book is a great resource for exploring geometric shapes, transformations, and understanding that shapes can be made from other shapes.  Interactive tangram ideas are provided in the back of the book. 
  • AMAZON link:  http://www.amazon.com/Three-Seven-Shapes-Scholastic-Reade r/dp/0590308572
• “The Silly Story of Goldie Locks and the Three Squares” by Grace Maccarone and illustrated by Anne Kennedy
  • In this story, Goldie Locks is the great-great-granddaughter of the fairy-tale Goldilocks.  Throughout her journey, which is very similar to her great-great-grandmother’s, she explores all kinds of shapes and even talks about the “attributes of the shapes”.  These attributes can be reviewed and formalized after story time to ensure students understand the concepts as it relates to geometric shapes. 
  • AMAZON link:  http://www.amazon.com/Silly-Story-Goldie-Squares-Reader/dp/059054344X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272265413&sr=1-1
• “Cubes, Cones, Cylinders, & Spheres” by Tana Hoban
  • Throughout this book, photographs of familiar objects found in our everyday lives depict a variety of shapes.  The picture book is great for guiding a class discussion on solid shapes and their attributes.  Vocabulary terms will be reinforced by students through discussion and exploration of other objects found in our environment.  This book is great for all students and especially for LEP students or for those who require additional support. 
  • AMAZON link:   http://www.amazon.com/Cubes-Cones-Cylinders-Spheres-Hoban/dp/0688153259   
• “Discovering Shapes, Circles” by Sandy Riggs and art by Richard Maccabe
  • This resource book provides activities and fun facts that reinforce various concepts of circles in past and present times.  The hands on activities engage students in that the natural learning process is encouraged.  The teacher can evaluate student understanding through observations and interactions during activities and through class discussions exploring various concepts such as congruency, circumference, and using the circle to draw shapes.  Activities include Compass Creations, Drawing Circles, Are Circles Important, and more.  Answers and a glossary are provided. 
  • AMAZON link:  http://www.amazon.com/Circles-Discovering-Shapes-Sandy-Riggs/dp/0761404589/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272266226&sr=1-1