Play With 2D Shapes

Time: 60 minutes

Materials: Lesson 4 video (when completed); One recycled box for each student and three “cardboard dumpsters” with recycled cardboard strips plus glue and masking tape; markers; 2D geometric shapes handout; The Daily Doodle notebook or student worksheets (link below) and pencils.

Overview:
Students learn about the origins and real-world applications of geometry.

They discover the vital role that Greeks played in advancing geometry from science to a usable system, and who the inventors were that progressed this science of structures. They find out about the inter-relationships between science and art that will be used in The Universe Within such as form, function, balance, perspective.

Students are encouraged to take on the role of role of artists, architects and mathematicians as they play with 2D shapes and learn more about geometry. They receive the day’s assignment which is to construct a kit of cardboard 2D geometric shapes. Students share the defining attributes of the 2D shapes in their kits, identifying shapes with the same number of sides and larger categories of shapes.

Students are asked to open their treasure boxes of found objects they’ve been collecting and share their favorite items!

Assignments:

As a group, students discuss what geometry is and create a list of ways we use geometry in everyday life.
As a group, students learn about geometry’s origins and great inventors.
Individually, students learn how to work with cardboard, glue and tape materials to construct a kit of 2D shapes.
As a group, students identify defining attributes of 2D geometric shapes and identify shared attributes that define a larger category.
As a groups, students share all the found object items they’ve collected for making their sculptures.

Downloads:

2D Shapes List Handout
15 Famous Greek Mathematicians Handout
Instructor Protocol

Homework:

If students forgot to bring in their found objects, their homework is to bring them into the next lesson for sculpture building. Based on some of the shapes they’ve created today, students are asked to start to notice the shapes in buildings and in nature, and what their roles are.

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By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

-Understand applications of geometry to everyday life

-Correlate connections between geometry, art and architecture

-Construct 2D geometric shapes from recycled materials

-Identify attributes that define different geometric shapes

This lesson meets the following Arizona State Standards:

-VisualArts.Create.2.3b, 2.4b, 2.5b (Demonstrate quality craftsmanship and artistic processes through care for and use of materials, tools, and equipment)

-Math.Geometry.3.A.1, 4.A.1, 5.A.1 (Reason with shapes and their attributes and classify shapes by properties)

-Theater.Create.1.3b, 1.4b, 1.5b (Visualize and devise ideas for costumes, props and sets for the characters in a theatrical work)

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