Volume 3
December 2012
Web Resources:
Primary: Number Cracker
www.funbrain.com
Junior: Polygon Sort and Patch Tool
www.mathfrog.ca
Intermediate: Transformations
www.wiredmath.ca
Geometry
The ability to identify and describe shapes, sizes, positions,
directions, and movement is important in many work
situations, such as construction and design, as well as in
creating and understanding art. Becoming familiar with shapes
and spatial relationships in their environment will help
children grasp the principles of geometry in later grades.
Family Math Activities
K-3

Bake Christmas Cookies.
Use a variety of shapes to make
sugar cookies. Talk about how to
get the most out of the dough by moving the shapes around.

Play "I spy", looking for different shapes. "I spy something that is round." "I spy something
that is rectangular." "I spy something that looks like a cone."

Hide a toy and use directional language to help your child find it. Give clues using words and
phrases such as up, down, over, under, between, through, and on top of.

Build structures using blocks or old boxes. Discuss the need to build a strong base. Ask your
child, “which shapes stack easily, and why?”

Ask your child to draw a picture of your street, neighbourhood, or town for Santa. Talk
about where your home is in relation to a neighbour's home or the corner store. Use directional
words and phrases like beside and to the right of.
Grades 4-6

Ask your child to help you wrap. Take note of the features of the different shaped boxes
(number of sides, how many are the same, different, hardest to wrap, why?)

Look at the wrapping paper. Take note of the patterns, do any of the shapes rotate, translate
or reflect (turn, slide or rotate)?
Grades 7 and 8 Geometer’s Sketch Pad Ministry Licensed Software
Dynamic Geometry® Software for Exploring Mathematics
The Geometer's Sketchpad is a dynamic construction, demonstration, and exploration tool that adds a
powerful dimension to the study of mathematics. You and your son or daughter can use this software program to
build and investigate mathematical models, objects, figures, diagrams, and graphs.
Please contact your school for log in information.
Elementary Mathematics Program Team
2012