I wanted to do a few fun projects to go along with our geometry unit in math. We wrote little mini books called “My Geometry Book of Shapes.” They each had 8 pages with 8 shapes. Most were 3D shapes but there were a few 2D.
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fqsdCiTycRg/U0PCUKGVgsI/AAAAAAAAX7o/BkW9XpiXAr0/s1600/Leprechauns+and+Presidents+Day+033.JPG) |
My Geometry Book of Shapes…..I once was a sphere, but now I”m a soccer ball on the UTAH REAL team’s game!
Open ended math writing prompts are differentiation naturally. I like to add a writing prompt to my math once a month and get 5 birds with 1 stone. (math problem solving, differentiation, punctuation and creative writing practice mixed in with some cool art!) And talk about engagement…. Kids LOVE these kinds of multilevel, multisubject projects.
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![](http://c376007.r7.cf1.rackcdn.com/9780545042208.jpg) |
Here’s one of the cool books I read during this unit; The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns. It’s a great one that talks about 3D shapes and 2D shapes in a fun way. |
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-okOwzeJdXU4/TyNjvNOnCPI/AAAAAAAABCU/UP370uLy2wg/s320/Greedy+Triangle+chart.jpg) |
I found some fun worksheets to look at “edges and vertices” of shapes too. This goes along with our math unit in Geometry. Check them out HERE at ezschool. |
We started with “I once was a sphere, but now I’m a _____________. They had to fill it in with a real world something with that shape. Then they had to add a describing adjective, and an adverb of time or place.
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5YYHPchHuE4/U0PDUx5SnbI/AAAAAAAAX8A/_K5JKfGmMXA/s1600/Leprechauns+and+Presidents+Day+037.JPG) |
In the past I have bought Pattern Block Stickers for this design art, but this year I had 30 kids so I just punched out lots of colorful pattern block shapes out of the Ellison Die Cuts. It took me over an hour to do enough! Whew! |
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SHqb4vuiq0U/U0PDUuE1zjI/AAAAAAAAX78/e_17MeoXh4M/s1600/Leprechauns+and+Presidents+Day+038.JPG) |
Lines of symmetry in a few of these pattern block picture designs |
I had them make a pattern block sticker design using hexagons at the center. I told them to do anything they wanted but that I was looking for a few to be symmetrical. I ended up getting about a third of the class doing symmetry designs and 2/3rds that did other designs. Then I post a question;
WHICH OF THESE DESIGNS SHOW A LINE OF SYMMETRY? It is fun and challenging for the kids to pick out the truly symmetrical designs!!
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qkua3cyGBgY/U0PDTJ04yeI/AAAAAAAAX70/OalGlh7C5xM/s1600/Leprechauns+and+Presidents+Day+039.JPG) |
I love how colorful and creative these pattern block art designs look too on black paper. I’ve seen them done on white paper plates too, but I think the darker color looks cool. Maybe we will try them on yellow plates one year, that might be cool! |
![](data:image/jpeg;base64,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)
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KJXZijTlajw/U0PDY84bVlI/AAAAAAAAX8M/Ru6yhH1Qq34/s1600/Leprechauns+and+Presidents+Day+040.JPG) |
Can you find the symmetrical one in this pattern block picture group? There is only one! |
![](http://site.unbeatablesale.com/img360/dlrdy144098.gif) |
This is a fun center for the week too, magnetic pattern blocks. I have a magnet center in my room just made from using the side of a black filing cabinet. I have a rug in front of it and lots of magnetic games for fast finishers in math. |
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LhWiRDC8rlc/U0PDaosZMMI/AAAAAAAAX8Y/C6f5ET1JHAE/s1600/Leprechauns+and+Presidents+Day+041.JPG) |
How about symmetry in this Pattern Blocks Design; there are a few! |
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bga2EOC2xus/U0PDahf8fbI/AAAAAAAAX8U/nIJJTyi8La4/s1600/Leprechauns+and+Presidents+Day+042.JPG) |
Tell Which Designs are SYMMETRY? |
![](https://docs.google.com/file/d/0By3ucBEiEdoOOXhUUEU1QkRZWUU/image?pagenumber=1&w=800)
They turned out really fun to look at and share. The students were very creative and did a beautiful JOB!
HERE’S THE WRITING PROJECT:
Making a Geometry Book. The pages in it go like this…..”I once was a _________ but now I’m a _________. Fill in with circle to sphere, or triange to pyramid, or square to cube. (I once was a circle, but now I’m a sphere shaped basketball in a Laker’s Game.)
The students then draw a picture of a real life example with a sentence to describe how it is used or where they would find it.
Another Example: I once was a square but now I’m a cube of ice in a cold glass of Coke. Then they draw a glass with cubed ice inside. It’s a lot of fun.
Each child does 5 to 7 pages and it takes a few days of writing time. But it’s great integration of math and writing.
![](http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/84/52DF516F6DB76EE398EF303B60079B65.png)