Title of Book: Math-terpieces: The Art of Problem Solving
Author: Greg Tang
Publisher/Year: Scholastic Press/2003
ISBN: 0-439-44388-1
Grade Levels for Recommended Use: 3 rd
- 4th
TEKS: (4.8) Geometry and spatial reasoning. The student identifies and describes attributes of geometric figures using formal geometric language. The student is expected to: (A) identify and describe right, acute, and obtuse angles; (C) use essential attributes to define two- and threedimensional geometric figures.
Brief Summary: This book incorporates math problem solving with famous paintings by wellknown artists using a poetic form.
Materials needed: paper, pencil, markers, ruler, coloring key, and crayons or colored pencils
Suggested Activity: After reading this book, the teacher will pass out materials and ask the students to:
1. Draw a picture of their head and face on a piece of paper using a pencil.
2. Use a ruler to draw random straight lines (at least 6) across the picture so that several geometric shapes and angles are made.
3. Students will then highlight one or two acute angles (less than 90 degrees) in red, one or two obtuse angles (greater than 90 degrees) in blue and one or two right angles (90 degrees) in green.
4. Students will look for two dimensional plane figures in their picture. The students will color triangles - yellow, quadrilaterals - orange, pentagons - brown, and hexagons - purple.
References: http://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/detail/pick-out-the-patterns-lesson-plan/
Adapted by: Joan Diaz (2011)