Title of the Book: The Greedy Triangle
Author: Marilyn Burns
Publisher: Scholastic Books/1994
ISBN: 0-590-48991-7
Grade Levels for recommended Use: third –fifth grade
(3.8)Geometry and spatial reasoning, the student uses formal geometric vocabulary. The student is expected to identify, classify, and describe two- and three-dimensional geometric figures by their attributes. The student compares two- dimensional figures, three-dimensional figures, or both by their attributes using formal geometry vocabulary.
Brief Summary:
The Greedy Triangle uses an array of color to illustrate the different polygons and how they connect in the world around us. This story is about a triangle that is dissatisfied with only having 3 sides. He visits a shapeshifter and adds a side and transform into a quadrilateral, but it does not take long before he becomes bored again to return for another side again and again. Finally, the triangle realizes that he is special just the way he is and returns to being a triangle.
Materials needed:
Art paper or legal size paper, various colors of construction paper (to be cut or pre-cut into different polygons), glue, pencils, markers,
Begin by reading The Greedy Triangle and through class discussion identify the shapes that were seen in the text such as triangle, quadrilateral, and pentagon.
Either individually or in groups, students will select a minimal of 5 cut out shapes to design their own creature. After the design is determined and glued on paper the students should label each shape along with the number of sides (note the students are limited to only shapes provided). Once the creature is created and labeled the students could use markers or color pencils to decorate his/her creature.
Suggested Activity:
Story board- A story board is another way to illustrate the different polygons. It could be used while the teacher is reading the text to the class or small group or is a great activity during a math center. In the math center the students can use the story board to match the shape to the correct vocabulary word.
Language arts/writing- Students could write a math problem or story about the polygon creature he/she created. The student should include math terms and correct words for each shape. When completed it could be presented to the class and/or posted on the bulletin board.
Mini video clip- teacher could show the Polygon Song by Peter Weatherall
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Otcj9LOh8g&feature=related
Physical activity- Students can be placed into teams or groups and they have to use their bodies to create the different polygons; for example, 5 students lying on the floor touching feet to head to create a pentagon.
Adapted by Lisa Calaway 2010