Exploring Solid Shapes with Polydrons Lessons for: small kindergarten math groups

Goals:

Students will name plane and solid shapes

Students will count sides and vertices of plane and solid shapes

Students will compare solid shapes to plane shapes

Students will construct solid shapes using plane shapes

Students will explore the concept of nets

Students will work cooperatively to solve problems

Students will persevere and think critically to solve problems

Students will speak in a clear, audible voice using appropriate vocabulary

Standards covered:

KG1, KG2, KG3, KG4, KG5, KG6

Background information:

The Polydron sets that we purchased contain a variety of flat shapes as well

as some curved shapes for making solid shapes such as: cones, spheres, and

cylinders. The sets are not large enough for an entire class to make solid

shapes at the same time, so small guided or independent groups work best.

Since the Polydrons were purchased after the students already learned the

names and characteristics of plane shapes, this year they were used more

for learning about solid shapes. Students were initially introduced to the

Polydrons in a whole group setting where they could see and touch the items

that were purchased and get a general idea of how their magnetic properties

work. The Polydrons were then placed in a center as an option for students

to explore on a daily basis while we worked on other math skills (since they

were new, they were a very popular item). The following apps were also

downloaded on the class ipad to help with the exploration of nets:

3D Shapes and Nets3D Shapes and Nets3D Shapes and Nets3D Shapes and Nets and and and and Cyberchase 3D BuilderCyberchase 3D BuilderCyberchase 3D BuilderCyberchase 3D Builder

By Hon Fai Dennis YuBy Hon Fai Dennis YuBy Hon Fai Dennis YuBy Hon Fai Dennis Yu By PBS KIDSBy PBS KIDSBy PBS KIDSBy PBS KIDS

Polydrons

Small group Lesson 1 – Name, compare, and construct solid shapes:

Standards: KG2, KG3, KG4, KG5, KG6

Objective: Given real world objects as examples, students will create models

of solid shapes (cube, sphere, cone, and cylinder) and use correct math

vocabulary when explaining their work.

Materials: ball, can (soup can), party hat, large die and Polydron kit

Lesson:

Teacher introduces real world objects by naming their solid shape and asks

students about the flat shapes they see. Teacher asks students to notice

that solid shapes also have edges and vertices; they can also have more than

one flat face.

Students will discuss and show the characteristics of the ball, can, die, and

party hat as they hold them. Teacher will prompt the students to use the

following vocabulary when describing objects: faces, edges, vertices, curved

sides, same, different, sizes.

Teacher asks: Which shapes have all flat faces? Which shapes have curved

sides? How many edges are on each of the shapes? Vertices? Which shapes

are alike? Why?

Students are given Polydrons to construct models of the real world objects

provided. As students construct models teacher is asking how what types of

Polydron pieces they are using to make their models (flat squares, semi

circles, curved rectangle, etc.). Each student is asked to make a model of

each object so they have hands on understanding of each shape’s

characteristics.

After task completion teacher asks again: Which shapes have all flat faces?

Which shapes have curved sides? Which shapes are alike? Why? Which

shapes did you use to make the cube, cone, sphere, cylinder? Show me an

example of a flat/solid shape using the Polydron pieces.

Assess:

Teacher assesses students’ ability to create a model, name solid shapes,

count edges and vertices, differentiate between flat and solid shapes, and

compare shapes using teacher observation.

Small Group(s) Lesson 2 – Use Polydron kit to explore the

concept of nets:

Standards: KG1, KG2, KG3, KG5, KG6

Objective:

Given a model of a net, students will recreate it with Polydron/paper pieces

to create a solid shape.

Materials:

Ipad with apps listed above, Polydrons, construction paper shapes, tape

Lesson: (students must complete activity 1 before going to activity 2)

Activity 1 – teacher facilitates)

Teacher introduces 3D Shapes and Nets app to students by showing them

different nets and how to manipulate them into a closed, solid shape and by

modeling expectations for use with the Polydron pieces. Students will use

flat Polydron pieces to recreate a net and then fold the pieces to make a

solid shape. Teacher will guide and assist students as needed, but will allow

students to explore and offer enough wait time for students to attempt to

solve their own problems and draw their own conclusions. Students will be

encouraged to try, try, and try again before asking for help. Students

should seek help from other students before asking the teacher. Students

will create at least 2 solid shapes from a net using Polydron pieces.

Activity 2 – students work in pairs)

After students practice with the Polydrons, they will work with a partner to

create solid shapes from a net using the CyberChase 3D Builder app,

construction paper shapes and tape. Each student will open the app and

select a net they’d like to recreate. After partner 1 selects his net, he will

give partner 2 the shapes one at a time, naming each shape and using position

words to describe where each shape should be placed. This step will be

repeated with partner 2 giving partner 1 the necessary shapes one at a time,

also naming each shape and using position words to describe where each

shape should be placed. Once each net has been created, the students will

begin taping the edges of their own nets together while lying in a plane.

Students will then fold the shapes to close their shape and tape the

remaining edges. The teacher will allow each student to use “math talk” to

explain the steps in the process and ask questions as necessary to assess

understanding and mastery of the standards.