The book "Math Curse" by John Scieszka and Lane Smith is a fun read-aloud story that helps children learn about different shapes. The book features parallelograms as well as trapezoids, right triangles and kites in the form of geo-critters. Before reading the story, introduce students to these shapes. While reading the story, ask students to identify the shapes in the illustrations. After reading the story, have students create their own geo-critters. Depending on the time available and the age of the students, you might want to use handouts with the basic shapes already printed on them. Students can then turn these into geo-critters and cut them out.
While all rectangles are parallelograms, not all parallelograms are rectangles. To help students learn to distinguish the differences between the two shapes use a Rectangle versus Parallelogram Activity Sheet with a column where students can list traits of rectangles and a second column where they can list traits of parallelograms. This activity can be conducted as a classroom discussion. Ask students to name characteristics that are unique to each shape. As these characteristics are named, list them on the board under the parallelogram or rectangle column and have students do the same on their own activity sheets.
Tangrams are a set of geometric Chinese puzzle pieces. Each tangram set consists of five triangles, one square and one parallelogram. Tangrams are available as plastic puzzle pieces. For a large classroom, you can have students construct their own set of tangrams using plain paper. When students have cut out their pieces, have them identify each of the different shapes. Then challenge them to form different shapes using the pieces. Ask them to form a parallelogram using just two tangram pieces.
Another fun way of creating a parallelogram with paper is to have students fold paper. Students should each start with a rectangular piece of paper. Fold down the top of the paper and then unfold, marking the crease with the number 1. Make another crease perpendicular to this and mark it 2. Make another crease perpendicular to 2 and parallel with 1 and mark it 3. Make a diagonal fold that goes through the 1 and 3 creases and mark it 4. Make another fold parallel to 4 and mark it 5. Have students trace the parallelogram they have created with their creases.