Discovering geometric shapes using paper airplanes
Second – Third Grades
NYS Math Standard 3: Students will understand mathematics and become mathematically confident by communication and reasoning mathematically, by applying mathematics in real-world settings and by solving problems through the integrated study of number systems, geometry, algebra, data analysis, probability and trigonometry.
NYS ELA Standard 1: Students will read, write, listen and speak for information and understanding.
Objectives: Students will be able to identify parallel lines as well as specific geometric shapes involved in making a paper airplane.
Materials: 8.5” x 11” white copy paper, pictures of triangles, squares, rectangles and rhombuses.
Essential Question: If / when we make paper airplanes, do we use geometric shapes?
Procedure:
1) I will post on the overhead or blackboard, pictures of triangles, squares, rectangles, rhombuses, parallel lines and lines of symmetry.
2) I will distribute instructions for a simple paper airplane
3) As a class we will read the instructions and follow them step by step
4) After each step we will stop to investigate what geometric shapes or terms can be identified
5) Upon completion of the airplanes, we will fly the planes (in the class, hall, gymnasium or other suitable room)
Closing: “Recall my opening question. Who now thinks we use geometry and geometric shapes in making a paper airplane?” Can anyone think of other activities where geometry is used?
Assessment: My assessment will be a worksheet on which students answer questions regarding the geometric shapes and concepts we discussed.
Submitted by Patrick O’Kane
My lesson is designed from a substitute teacher’s perspective. Ordinarily the absent teacher provides lesson plans for the day(s) s/he will be out of the classroom. However, students do not always respond in a positive, enthusiastic manner to these plans. Therefore, I occasionally ad lib (generally the absent teacher leaves this to my discretion). Thus, my idea is to use this lesson plan when I find myself in the appropriate situation. If I am scheduled to be in the same classroom for more than one day, I would hope to expand on this lesson by suggesting to the students that they design different styles of paper plane, measure their respective flight distances, calculate averages, graph results etc.