Module Ten

Nets Activity 

I would do a similar activity in my class by having them guess before starting how many and which ones could be folded into a box without the lid. After taking a vote we would test it out as a class. I think by doing it as a class it would be easier for students because they could talk it out with each other. I thought the activity was pretty simple I knew from the start that the one with 5 in a straight line wouldnt work and same with the one that had 2 blocks touching 2 blocks so that meant I only needed to come up with 2 more that wouldnt work. I had a little trouble with the other 2 that didn't work and need to fold them to make sure I was right. Some problems I think students would have it possibly ripping the pieces or not folding the blocks on the lines so it might not look like a block without a lid. 

What grade level do you think an activity like this would best work for? Or could this be something used by all grade levels?

Textbook Reading 

3. What can you do when students in your classroom are at different van Hiele levels of thought?

I feel like this is something that happens quite often. Things that I would do if this happened in my classroom is I would create groups. I would either create groups based off of the level they are in and work with each level based off of what they are not understanding yet working with the lowest level the most. Or I would group the students in with kids at different levels so they could talk to each other about what they understand. Sometimes listening to other students thoughts about concepts helps other students learn better. 

4.Find one of the suggested applets, or explore GeoGebra (www.geogebra.org) and explain how it can be used. What are the advantages of using the computer instead of hands on materials or drawings. 

I decided to take a look at GeoGebra. I had never heard of this site before so I wanted to check it out. This website has many different tools to use such as a graphing calculator, and places to draw shapes. It also has multiple different resources like games and tools to use to teach things like time. I think if I were to use a website like this in my classroom I would need to sit down and really play with it before I did so because there were making things I didnt know how to work. One good thing about GeoGebra is it has a place called Geo Geometry where you can draw shapes. This would be better than hand drawing because you know the lines are always straight and more accurate. 

Did you look at GeoGebra? If so did you think it was a little confusing to use?
Spatial Reading/Building Plans

I found the shadows activity to be the hardest for me. I'm not sure why I guess I just have a hard time understanding how one shape can look like another in a shadow. Did you have trouble with this one or did you get them all correct?

It is important that students become proficient in spatial visualization because its not just something they will use in math class but also in the real world just like they talked about in the article. In math they need to use it to figure out missing shapes, angles, or sides. In real life they need it when packing to make enough room or even some jobs might need it to design things. 

I think that students should learn spatial learning early that way they get the concept young and then can big on it as they grow. I just feel that the sooner a child learns something or is introduced to something the better they will be able to understand it. 

We as teachers can help students become more proficient in this area by connecting things to the real world. If students know how they can use a concept in the real world they will be more likely to want to understand it then just learning in for the sake of learning it in math class. 

Do you think students learning spatial visualization is important? Why or why not?

Tangrams

Part A- Creating a square out of all 7 pieces took me a few tries of rearranging the different shapes but after about 3 or 4 tries I got it. I really couldnt believe it took me as long as it did.  Then when trying to make a square that wasnt a rectangle it made it even harder for me. Did you have trouble with this activity or was that just me? haha

I also had some trouble with 5 and 6. I had a hard time getting parting apart the trapezoid into the shapes that it need to be broken into. I think this is because I am not super familiar with all the shapes and the angles that they make. I was never good at geometry and doing simple activities like this remind me of that. 

For Further Discussion....

Games and Toys that use geometric concepts:
Legos, Blocks, Perfection,Early Learners-Shape toys, Magnetic blocks. This toys help to teach the big ideas of shapes by having the child match the shapes with outline of it. Or by connecting items together to create other shapes either 2D or 3D.

Do you think children using this types of toys or games at a young age have a better understanding later on?