Week 8 Reflection- Geometry and Spatial Sense

This weeks’ class focused on geometry and spatial sense. We started off the class breaking into three groups for the math activity presentations. This week I was in Rabia’s group where we focussed in on lines of symmetry at the grade 6 level. To start off the activity Rabia did a basic overview of what lines of symmetry are and went over reflective and rotational symmetry. She started off explain the content at a grade 4 level to make sure that our prior understanding and knowledge was where it should be at so that she could continue on with the lesson. We then individually filled out the chart on handout where we first described the symmetry of the mathematical shapes, drawing on lines of symmetry where necessary and giving the order of reflective symmetry. After we discussed our answers we then moved on to using pattern blocks to figure out the order of rotational symmetry for each shape in the chart. Once Rabia came to the conclusion that we had a good understanding on reflection and rotation symmetry, she instructed us to make a castle out of connecting cubes that has a reflectional line of symmetry. For my castle, I made a square shape so that it had four lines of reflectional symmetry. We then had to rotate the castle 90 degrees and then repeat that again and determine the order of rotational symmetry. Since my castle was in the shape of a square, it again had 4 rotational symmetries. I greatly enjoyed Rabia’s activity. She first made sure that everyone in the group understood the concepts of reflective and rotational theory on paper and then we were able to apply our knowledge using hands on material in a creative manner.

Modern Teaching Aids. (2017). Math Cubes. [Online Image] Retrieved from https://www.teaching.com.au/catalogue/mta/mta-maths-linking-cubes

 

Back to Blocks. (2013). Castle. [Online Image] Retrieved from http://backtoblocks.com/wooden-block-set-basic-builder-60-blocks.html

Back together as a class we first took a look at the Van Heile Theory of Geometric Thought. Based on the theory there are 5 levels to describe how students learn Geometry. There are:

-Level O: Visual

-Level 1: Description/ Analysis

-Level 2: Rational/ Informal Deduction

-Level 3: Deductive

-Level 4: Rigor

Eunice. (October, 1, 2015) Van Hiele’s Theory of Geometry.[Online Image] Retrieved from http://eunicehyc2.blogspot.ca/

We looked at developing geometrical thinking through lines of symmetry through common figures that we see in everyday life and well in terms of reflective and rotational symmetry. Rabia covered all of this content within her activity lesson earlier.

Radcliff, Kate. (2017). Symmetry. [Online Image] Retrieved from http://teachers.yale.edu/curriculum/viewer/initiative_10.04.08_u

In conclusion we saw that there are many methods to approach and teach this strand of math. We can look at teaching through literature, teaching through problem solving, teaching through games and many more options.

Until next time, happy mathing!