Geometry is everywhere: it's in the rectangular shape of a door frame, the square shape of the floorboards, the round shape of a doorknob, the cube shape of sugar, and more. Basically, it is an essential mathematical concept that children of all ages need to know. Fortunately, kids get acquainted with shapes and are introduced to them when they learn in kindergarten.
Undeniably, math for fourth graders can be more complex than earlier classes as kids will be introduced to more advanced math that could leave them flustered. Even though geometry is rich with essential ideas, only some students do well with lengthy lectures and copious amounts of practice problems. Fortunately, kids can easily find practical uses for the geometric concepts they learn in class by using DIY projects that are fun and exciting.
Keep reading as we explore geometry through fun games and DIYs that can keep kids entertained while they learn.
Make three-dimensional models out of playdough and pencils
Instruct your pupils to construct three-dimensional structures such as cones, cuboids, cylinders, spheres, etc, using playdough and pencils. You can even begin the lesson by making homemade playdough as a DIY project. This hands-on activity is an excellent practical example of how children may learn about the characteristics of three-dimensional shapes.
By engaging in this exercise, students may better grasp the concepts of length, width, and height related to three-dimensional shapes. While the children work, they are also expected to identify the properties of the shapes and their uses in everyday life.
Sketch Out Geometric Concepts
For the exercise, you will need graph paper, colored pencils, rulers, a compass, and measuring tools.
Writing things down helps students remember and acquire new information. For this reason, you should have children practice sketching and drawing geometric shapes as they take notes and learn in class.
They may use tools like protractors, compasses, and rulers to create the correct angles, lines, and vertices. After they're finished, you may pin them on the walls like a cute DIY entryway idea to demonstrate your admiration for the kid’s effort in completing the task.
Practice with task cards and worksheets
For this task, kids need colored paper, pencils, erasers, markers, and rulers. First, they must draw the shapes on colored paper with pencils. If they make mistakes, they can be easily corrected.
Using task cards, you may divide larger projects or ideas into smaller, more manageable portions. They allow pupils to concentrate on a single question without being overwhelmed, which is ideal for learning. You can download a task card template online to create one with the kids as a fun activity. The task for day one could be learning about prisms instead of a general rundown of all geometric shapes.
Pairing the task card activity with worksheets will make kids excel in geometry classes. Worksheets are helpful educational resources that can be used to introduce kids to the concepts of geometry. The authors create these worksheets so kids can conveniently learn the basics before transcending to more complex tasks.
Shape Bingo
For this exercise, you need cardboard paper, rulers, and pencils.
Using a ruler, draw a big square on cardboard paper to create a bingo board. Make five columns and five rows using vertical and horizontal lines. Next, write the names of different shapes in each space. Help the pupils practice naming shapes by describing or asking them to identify the shape by its name. Any student who correctly mentions or explains all the shapes on the bingo board has won the first round.
Shape Charts
This activity requires geometric shapes, cardboard papers, rulers, crayons, and pencils. Like shape bingo, make five columns (vertical lines) and five rows (horizontal lines). Then, give the kids different geometric shapes in various colors and sizes.
Their task is to count the number of shapes in each kind and then color the corresponding boxes in the appropriate columns. This project helps kids hone their ability to recognize geometric shapes by their names and to understand and represent them visually.
Create an Amusement Park
For this project, you need amusement park templates, scissors, sugar paper, crayons, and glue.
They may begin by making shapes or using the amusement park template to cut out construction paper shapes. They may build their amusement park using the included shapes and then decorate it with crayons or markers. They also have the option to include little playthings like toy vehicles and animals in their theme park.
The kids will build a little amusement park using what they've learned about measuring and shapes in geometry. They will also need to perfect their knowledge of area and perimeter.
Make a Bridge
For this activity, you'll need toothpicks, graph paper, marshmallows, wax paper, and glue.
Use graph paper to draw a drawing of your bridge. If you want your model to have a sturdy bridge, giving it a square base is best. Next, lay wax paper on the drawing and use it as a template to replicate the design. Glue the toothpicks onto the wax paper over the pencil lines. You can reinforce your bridge's junction by placing the toothpicks inside marshmallows.
After finishing one side, make a second bridge structure out of toothpicks and place it on the wax paper. Create a replica of the bridge on the other side of the wax paper. Then, remove the paper's framework and set it upright. Next, some toothpicks form triangles to secure the two halves of the bridge together.
Your pupils could find this project so engaging that they forget they are studying geometry. Initiate a discussion when they finish building their bridges by inquiring about the forms utilized, the weight capacity, the function of a truss, the number of trusses required, and other related topics. Once the bridges are constructed, allow your high school pupils to play with and test them. Try building different bridges and seeing how much weight they can support.
A fun-shaped family tree
Building a shape family tree requires construction paper and markers. Regarding shapes, students could have a wide range of questions. So, it's good for them to know shape families like Regular and. Irregular Shapes, 3D Shapes, 2D shapes, quadrilateral, etc.
So, write the different shapes families on a tree and have kids guess where triangles, squares, cuboids, circles, and all the other shapes fall into. The children can observe the many shapes of families, explore, and ask questions.
The symmetry game
For this game, you need sugar paper and markers. Share the sugar paper and have your pupils work in groups. Instruct them to use the paper to make a variety of shapes. They also write the names of the shapes on their finished work. Have them fold their finished shapes to identify those with perfect symmetry after making various them. Even more so, have them count the number of symmetry lines in each of their shapes.
Conclusion
Math concepts like geometry do not need to be challenging if teachers can incorporate fun and exciting DIY projects and games into the learning process. This article covers nine interesting DIY games and projects that kids can use to learn about the identification and uses of shapes. With the projects in this article, kids will understand that math is not only for the classroom, as we see geometry everywhere and use the concepts in our daily lives.