Explore and manipulate the principles of geometry by making a tessellation design with polygons. Using firm paper such as tag board, instruct students to draw a multi-sided polygon measuring approximately 2 inches by 2 inches. Give all students a blank sheet of paper. Students then cut out and trace their polygon in the upper-right hand corner of the paper. Demonstrate how they can slide, flip or rotate their tracing pattern, then place it on the paper next to the previously drawn shape with edges touching and redraw their shape. Repeat this process and fill the paper with the replicated design. Optionally, students can add dimension to their geometric art by coloring the pattern.
Engage learners in a fun geometric term review project. Divide the class into groups of three. Each team must be given a set of index cards. Students write one geometric term that has been taught in class on each card. Match one team against another. The teams must swap card sets. A student from the first team picks up and privately reads the terms on a card. Using his own body shape or molding with clay or Playdoh, this student's objective is to have his teammates guess the correct term in one minute. If correct, the team gets one point. If no correct guess was made, the guessing team forfeits the round. Play continues until all cards have been used.
Dioramas can be enchanting demonstrations of content students are learning. Assign students to create a geometric junkyard diorama using an old shoebox. Students design and make or find examples of three-dimensional geometric shapes from a suggested list supplied by the teacher. The shapes must be displayed in the diorama to create a junkyard scene. Each shape must be labeled with its geometric name. Allow each student to present her geometric junkyard diorama to the class.
One of the essential skills for success in the art of origami is to think and work in symmetrical patterns. Give each student a sheet of origami folding paper. Lead students through an age-appropriate origami lesson. Ask students to point out the reflective patterns they see in their folding. Point out the line of symmetry as the folds are progressing. Display the origami projects with the line of symmetry drawn on the shape in black marker.