3 Ideas for 3D Shapes

Do You Like Teaching Math?
(originally published 2012)

I've never loved teaching Math, which is probably (maybe?) why I spend so much time trying to make it FUN.

My grade 3 class had to learn about 3D shapes, and we did a big unit on this. I wish I still had my plans, but I do have pictures from three of the lessons I did with my kiddos.

Charts
This picture shows three of the charts we made for an introductory lesson. The kiddos had to look through magazines to find objects that were each of the pictured 3D shapes. First we brainstormed a few ideas like a Teepee and an Ice cream cone for the cone. As you can see, most of the examples they found were rectangular prisms, and NONE were cones. I know at least one magazine had a cone in it, but no one found it.

Build It!
Here they are using small bits of clay and cut up straws to build their own shapes. Many started out by simply making 2D shapes, but with encouragement they were able to expand. Pictured is their favourite shape, which meant a teachable moment: A house is made up of what two 3D shapes? This isn't the best example, but you get the idea right?

Memory
And here is a game. We played  A LOT of math games in my room. This one has the kids playing a game of memory trying to find two matching cards. If they can name it, they get to keep the pair, if they can't, their partner gets to try.

I wish I could take credit for all of these ideas, but my school mandated that all classes at my grade level use Hands-On Mathematics by Portage and Main Press. I liked the program because you couldn't miss any curriculum outcomes, but at the same time there wasn't much room for originality. 

Do you have favourite activities for teaching 3D shapes?

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