RPSEC Student Programs for
South Carolina & Georgia Schools

 

Polygon Puzzle

Student Programs Lesson Information, Standards Correlations, and Post Visit Activities

Polygon Puzzle: (Grades 4-7 • 60 minutes) In this program students use the Geometer’s Sketchpad, a dynamic, interactive geometry software package, to discover and explore properties of triangles. Students will construct and classify triangles by lengths of sides (scalene, isosceles, and equilateral) and by sizes of angles (acute, obtuse, and right) using computer-generated measurements of line segments and angles. Students will then use the computer to transform their triangles to solve a critical thinking problem.

Traveling Science Kits that support or extend this lesson
Pre & Post Visit Activities

This lesson supports the following mathematics standards:

South Carolina Schools

Georgia Schools

Grade 5: SCMS 4.2, 4.4, 5.2
Grade 6: SCMS 4.7
Grade 7: SCMM 4.1

Grade 5 Mathematics
Geometry
Standard 5-4:
The student will demonstrate through the mathematical processes an understanding of congruency, spatial relationships, and relationships among the properties of quadrilaterals.

Indicators:
4.2
Compare the angles, side lengths, and perimeters of congruent shapes.
4.4 Translate between two-dimensional representations and three-dimensional objects.

Measurement
Standard 5-5:
The student will demonstrate through the mathematical processes an understanding of the units and systems of measurement and the application of tools and formulas to determine measurements.

Indicators:
5.2
Use a protractor to measure angles from 0 to 180 degrees.

Grade 6 Mathematics
Geometry
Standard 6-4:
The student will demonstrate through the mathematical processes an understanding of shape, location, and movement within a coordinate system; similarity, complementary, and supplementary angles; and the relationship between line and rotational symmetry.

Indicators:
4.7
Compare the angles, side lengths, and perimeters of similar shapes.

Grade 7 Mathematics
Geometry
Standard 7-4:
The student will demonstrate through the mathematical processes an understanding of proportional reasoning, tessellations, the use of geometric properties to make deductive arguments. the results of the intersection of geometric shapes in a plane, and the relationships among angles formed when a transversal intersects two parallel lines.

Indicators:
4.1
Analyze geometric properties and the relationships among the properties of triangles, congruence, similarity, and transformations to make deductive arguments.

Grade 4: M4M2 a, b / M4G1 a
Grade 5: M5G1 / M5M1 a, c, d

Grade 4 Mathematics
M4M2: Students will understand the concept of angle and how to measure angles.

Indicators:
a.
Use tools, such as a protractor or angle ruler, and other methods, such as paper folding or drawing a diagonal in a square, to measure angles.
b. Understand the meaning and measure of a half rotation (180°) and a full rotation (360°).

M4G1: Students will define and identify the characteristics of geometric figures through examination and construction.

Indicator:
a.
Examine and compare angles in order to classify and identify triangles by their angles.

Grade 5 Mathematics
M5G1:
Students will understand congruence of geometric figures and the correspondence of their vertices, sides, and angles.

M5M1: Students will extend their understanding of area of fundamental geometric plane figures.

Indicators:
a.
Estimate the area of fundamental geometric plane figures.
c. Derive the formula for the area of a triangle (e.g. demonstrate and explain its relationship to the area of a rectangle with the same base and height).
d. Find the areas of triangles and parallelograms using formulae.

Please direct inquiries to:
Ruth Patrick Science Education Center
c/o Student Programs
USC Aiken, Box 3, 471 University Parkway, Aiken, SC 29801
(803) 641-3313 from Augusta 278-1967 Ext. 3313

RPSEC@usca.edu


Copyright © 2008 by the Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina.

Ruth Patrick Science Education Center
Center of Excellence in Educational Technology
University of South Carolina Aiken
471 University Parkway
Aiken, SC 29801
803-641-3313

URL: http://rpsec.usca.edu/student/Programs/Polygon/PolygonPuzzle.html (April 2008)