Changing Shape | NZ Maths

Purpose

This is a Level 2 Geometry activity from the Figure It Out Series.
A PDF of the student activity is included.

Achievement Objectives

GM2-3: Sort objects by their spatial features, with justification.

AO elaboration and other teaching resources

Student Activity

Click on the image to enlarge it. Click again to close. Download PDF (171 KB)

Specific Learning Outcomes

construct two dimensional shapes using triangles

Required Resource Materials

Cardboard

FIO, Level 2-3, Geometry, Changing Shape, page 7

Scissors

Activity

Activity One

Students will need to make the triangle pieces for the two activities from two square pieces of card so that they can manipulate the pieces to work out the different shapes each time. As with the rod problems on page 6, it is very important to have a concept of the size and properties of the target shape. Also important are the subunits of target shapes and how they might be made using the pieces.
For example, in Activity One, the main subunits can be made up in the following ways:
trianglesubunits.
See the diagrams in the Answers section for possible solutions.
Remind students that all the pieces must be used to complete each target shape.
Note how the square, triangle, and parallelogram subunits are used in these possible answers for question b:

Activity Two

Similar reasoning can be used to solve these problems. It should be noted that the shapes in problems a and b overlap slightly. The subunits here are:

3shapes.