Geometry Class #4, Geometry with Quilts (ages 7-10)

Today we began by looking at homework (optional) from last week. I wished that my blog readers could see the homework (fun stuff!), then remembered that Bridges Home Connections are available, free, on the Math Learning Center Website. We've done several of them in the recent past. Go HERE and look under "Home Connections" for Home Connections 11-15 (pdf). They are:

#11: "Crossing the Pond" (game)
#12: "3-D Shape Hunt" (looking for geometric figures around you)
#13: "Last Shape in Wins" (game we've been playing during choice time) and
"What Can You Do With a Square and 2 Triangles?" (our homework this week)
#14: "Is it Symmetrical?" (exploration around home for symmetrical items)
#15 "Sorting Quadrilaterals"

Again this is all FREE! Comes with gameboards, paper patterns for manipulatives, etc.

We continued by reading aloud A Cloak for the Dreamer.** Excellent read! Reflecting on the book, we talked about what shapes could be pieced without holes or gaps and experimented with pattern blocks. [Refer to my post on Tessellations for more ideas.]

We made our own patchwork quilt blocks with paper. We explored the number of lines of symmetry in each block and graphed our class results. Next session, each child will select a favorite block to replicate for our own paper mini-quilts.

Toward the end of our class, students participated in choice time ("Work Places") utilizing activities from Geometry with Geoblocks (hands-on math for homeschoolers) and Bridges.

I ended the session by reading Sir Cumference and the Sword in the Cone.The kids were thrilled to have another Sir Cumference title...and were especially happy when they correctly guessed where the sword would be found.

 If I'd had a few more minutes, I would have read a book on quilts. I'd prepared several to  choose from:

The Keeping Quilt, Patricia Polacco
The Log Cabin Quilt, Ellen Howard
Oma's Quilt, Paulette Bourgeois
The Name Quilt, Phyllis Root
The Patchwork Quilt, Valerie Flournoy
The Promise Quilt, Candice Ransom
The Quiltmaker's Gift, Jeff Brumbeau
Quilts in the Attic, Robbin Fleisher
The Quilt Story, Tony Johnston
Selina and the Bear Paw Quilt, Barbara Smucker

This is only skimming the surface of the abundant children's book titles on quilts. It would be an excellent unit study in tandem with geometry. If your children are up to the challenge, consider having them make their own wall hangings. The photos capture examples that my students did several years ago during a study of the Oregon trail. The drawings are done using Pentel Fabricfun Pastel Dye Sticks. With these sticks, you can draw directly onto the fabric rather than having to transfer from paper with fabric crayons. As you can see, the colors are vibrant and the drawings are clear.

**Our lessons today come from The Math Learning Center's  Geometry with Geoblocks (hands-on math for homeschoolers) and Bridges. I noticed that they sell A Cloak for the Dreamer for less than I've found it elsewhere. But it's also available through Amazon.

Have fun! And if you do any of this, I'd love to know how it turns out! :)