Week 12

Geometry:


The big ideas:

Reys et al., (2020) notes that geometry provides real-life opportunities to explore and problem-solve, and therefore is a key part of the primary curriculum. Geometry encompasses 1D, 2D and 3D shapes, and is crucial to mathematical processing and visualising of ideas that require pictures, such as area. Some theories explored this week include Blooms' taxonomy theory (create, evaluate, analyse, apply, understand and remember) and van Hiele's theory symbolic levels of geometric thinking (visualisation, analysis, abstraction, formal deduction and rigour).





Student language
Material Language
Mathematical language
Symbolic Language
Language
looks like, inside, outside, sides, bottom, top, right, left, size, corners
looks like, inside, outside, sides, bottom, top, right, left, size,
faces, perimeter, angle, area, volume, circumference, circle, square
n/a
Materials
Familiar objects
Substituted objects
Diagrams, photos, graphs, shapes, ruler, protractor
mm, cm, m, =, +
Recording
n/a
drawing shapes, lines
scaled drawings, working out, area, perimeters, triangles, circles
Writing of equations, using symbols 

Personal reflection:
As a teacher I think I will especially embrace the real-life connection of shapes to our world, as this will be useful in the student language stage with familiar objects. I also will use the geoboards resource, as they are a good hands-on manipulative for student to explore shapes with.

Concept, skills and strategies:
Geometry can be defined as a branch of mathematics that covers shape, size, relative position of figures and the property of space. A familiar way to introduce this concept to students is begin by identifying shapes in their immediate surrounding to emphasize how regularly they are found in our lives.

A possible misconception:
Misclassifying a shape due to its orientation is a misconception often seen. Students can be used to seeing a shape in one orientation, so when it is flipped, they may not connect the two shapes. To remedy this, ensuring that shapes being discussed in class are approached and switched around will assist student to make that observation, and recognition.

ACARA:
Geometry: Foundation year / Measurement and geometry / Shape / ACMMG009
Elaboration:
  • sorting and describing squares, circles, triangles, rectangles, spheres and cubes.
students identify shapes in environments familiar to them e.g. bedroom, classroom.

Resources:
Shapes is an engaging games for students to learn the basic properties of geometry. Suggested to use for student past the material language stage.

Word Count: 278