Geometry FREEBIE and reviews

So, as I've said, a lot of my focus this year is on switching over to the Common Core State Standards.  This week we worked on:

1.G.1. Distinguish between defining attributes (e.g., triangles are closed and three-sided) versus non-defining attributes (e.g., color, orientation, overall size) ; build and draw shapes to possess defining attributes.

 I gave partners a bowl of attribute links and had them work together to sort them into two piles by attribute.

You can download the sorting sheet for free {HERE}. We then shared out different ways they came up with. For example, the above picture could be 4 sides or 4 corners.

I was asked to review two products for Learning Resources. First up, Real World Folding Geometric Shapes. When I introduce geometric solids I try to bring some real life examples like a soccer ball, soup can, etc. I always struggle though to come up with something to hold up for a triangular pyramid, for example. Here is an answer to my problem.

Many different nets are provided that you can easily exchange. Cool, huh? Activity ideas are also included. Being able to physically touch the vertices & sides should make them easier to count. Anyone else's students have trouble with that Envision lesson (8-5) where they have to count vertices & sides they can't see? My game The Great Shape Race goes along great with these.

I also got to try Sentence Buildings that I hope to eventually put out as a center choice.

Each building is a part of speech. The students pick a card from each and arrange them into a sentence. To differentiate, simple sentences can be made by only picking pronoun, verb, noun, and punctuation cards. My plan is to try it with my high group in small group first. Again, a variety of activity ideas are provided. The quality of the cards is impressive so they will last!

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Last, I wanted to tell you that I went over my Decoding Strategies sheet with the parents at Back-to-School Night and it went over REALLY well! I have had parents tell me they are using it nightly and others have commented that they wish they had it sooner. Woo Hoo! Click on the pic if you want to check them out. Thanks SO much to everyone who has!