3D is all of the rage so bring on some 3D shapes!!

Now we are going to explore a whole new world of math but looking at shapes, solids, and fractions. In other words we will be talking about Geometry!! There is a lot of new vocabulary in this chapter so take it slow and everyone will get it. A lot of kids really like this chapter because a lot of kids are builders at heart. They have been playing with blocks and in sand boxes for years so building is really cool and is something that the children are really comfortable with!!

***A KEY concept to this chapter is that there is a difference between SHAPES and SOLIDS. Shapes are flat and solids are 3-D. We say in class that solids you can touch all of the way around and shapes are flat as we slap the desk. ***

VOCABULARY-

cone - a 3D figure with a round base and a point at the top

cube - a square 3D figure such as a box

curved suface - a rounded surface

cylinder - a 3D figure with flat circular ends and a curved surface such as a tube

faces/flat surface - the flat parts of a solid figure

rectangular prism - a rectangular 3D figure such as a brick

sphere - a round 3D figure such as a ball

vertices - the points where the flat parts of the solids meet (in a flat shape these are called corners). We say these are the “ouch” points of the solid.

1.     SOLID FIGURES-

Solid figures are all around us and now we get the chance to give these solids a name. The solids that we will be talking about are the following:

1.     Cube

2.     Rectangular Prism

3.     Cone

4.     Sphere

5.     Cylinder

We talk about the properties of the solids. We notice which ones roll, slide, and stack. This allows us to see that some solids have flat parts called “faces”.

We also do what comes naturally with 3D shapes...we build with them and knock them down!

Activities for Chapter 11

1. 3D Recycling

Materials: anything that can be recycled for example, paper towel rolls, tissue boxes, oatmeal boxes

Procedure:

1.       Have your child indentify a place they would like to go.

2.       Look up that destination on the internet if possible or at the library to identify the key buildings or places.

3.       Hunt through the house for solids that are made of recycled material such as paper towel rolls or shoe boxes.

4.       Have the child decorate each item to show the important buildings from the destination and then put together on a big poster board and let the adventure begin!

2. 3D Godzilla Memory

Materials- blocks

Procedure:

1.       Set up a tower made out of blocks and give the child 5 seconds to study the tower.

2.       Yell “Godzilla” and knock it down.

3.       Have the child rebuild the tower.