Title of Book: The Great Polygon Caper

Author: Karen Ferrell

Publisher: Barron’s Educational Series, Inc. (2008)

ISBN: 0764140418

Grade Levels for Recommended Use: 5 - 8

TEKS: 6th grade mathematics

(6)Geometry and spatial reasoning. The student uses geometric vocabulary to describe angles, polygons, and circles. The student is expected to:

(A)use angle measurements to classify angles as acute, obtuse, or right;

(B)identify relationships involving angles in triangles and quadrilaterals; and

(C)describe the relationship between radius, diameter, and circumference of a circle.

(7)Geometry and spatial reasoning. The student uses coordinate geometry to identify location in two dimensions. The student is expected to locate and name points on a coordinate plane using ordered pairs of non-negative rational numbers.

(8)Measurement. The student solves application problems involving estimation and measurement of length, area, time, temperature, volume, weight, and angles. The student is expected to:

(A)estimate measurements (including circumference) and evaluate reasonableness of results;

(B)select and use appropriate units, tools, or formulas to measure and to solve problems involving length (including perimeter), area, time, temperature, volume, and weight;

(C)measure angles; and

(D)convert measures within the same measurement system (customary and metric) based on relationships between units.

Brief Summary: The Great Polygon Caper follows Mayor Lostis Marbles and a superhero named Edge Master as they save the town of Mathopolis from the villains of the Shiftless gang, led by Shiftless Shere. In a series of funny, fictional episodes, Edge Master helps the hapless mayor solve problems involving angles, polygons, triangles, quadrangles, squares, prisms, and pyramids. He also demonstrates how to calculate the volume of solid objects. Students will be entertained as they familiarize themselves with the fundamentals of geometry.

Materials needed:

The Great Polygon Caper by Karen Ferrell

Construction Paper

Play Dough

Computer/ Internet Access

Suggested Activity:

•Watch the preview of The Polygon Caper at

•Read chapter one, Bubbling Over with Trouble. Allow for class “what if” discussion of real-life issues this fictional problem would create.

Activity One:

  1. Students will use half a sheet of fall leaf colored construction paper to create as many polygons as possible. Students must use the whole sheet with no left overs
  2. Students will create a class polygon tree by gluing leaves made of different polygons on the tree.

Activity Two:

  1. Students will write a poem or create a comic strip that explains how the world or their life would be different if one shape was replaced with another shape for instance if circles were squares.
  2. You can have students use free comic maker websites to make their comic. (see resources)

Activity Three:

  1. Review polygons by having students create 3D shapes from play dough.
  2. Students can play Play-dough-gons. Each student starts with an equal amount of play dough. Students have 20 seconds to secretly create a polygon. After 20 seconds the teacher announces a polygon. The Play-dough-gon is revealed to your partner and the student that created the Play-dough-gon that best matches the category wins the other students play dough. The game is over when a student loses all their play dough.

References and or websites:

Adapted by (Michelle LaRocque, 2012)