Teacher Technology Companion for Grade 3 Geometry & Spatial Sense
Overall Expectations: (Ontario Mathematics Curriculum, rev. 2005)
► 3m47: compare two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional figures and sort them by their geometric properties;
► 3m48: describe relationships between two-dimensional shapes, and between two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional figures;
► 3m49: identify and describe the locations and movements of shapes and objects.
Support materials for software named below may be found at: http://www.hpedsb.on.ca/sg/quinte/software_info.htm
Additional Help: William Lundy, SETS-Mathematics, Hastings and Prince Edward DSB, 613-966-1170 ext 3326; wlundy@hpedsb.on.ca
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Specific Expectation
Geometric Properties
use a reference tool (e.g., paper corner,
3m50
pattern block, carpenter's square) to identify
right angles and describe angles as greater
than, equal to, or less than a right angle
identify and compare various polygons (i.e.,
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triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons,
hexagons, heptagons, octagons) and sort
them by their geometric properties
compare various angles, using concrete
3m52
materials and pictorial representations, and
describe angles as bigger than, smaller than,
or about the same as other angles
compare and sort prisms and pyramids by
3m53
geometric properties (i.e., number and
shape of faces, number of edges, number of
vertices), using concrete materials
Teacher Technology Companion for Grade 3
S = Software on HPEDSB Elementary Image
W = Website (most are interactive, using Java applets)
Italics = Nota bene
W - Ladybug Leaf – Program a ladybug to hide behind a leaf.
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_287_g_2_t_3.html?open=activities
“Programming” the ladybug involves using 90º as well as 45º angles; use to
challenge students.
S – Math Trek 1-2-3: Geometry – Homes of Different Shapes (house image) –
students are shown drawings of differently-shaped houses and various polygons:
they are asked to drag the polygon into the house, i.e. match properties–
recommendation: use for consolidation
W - Banana Hunt – estimating angle sizes
http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/bananahunt/bhunt.html
This site’s contents overlap with Grade 4 expectation 4m63.
S – Math Trek 1-2-3: Geometry – Exploring Solids (white cat? image) –
students are image of an object that is a polyhedron, and shown how it can morph
into a net; terminology (faces, edges, and vertices) is introduced –
recommendation: use for consolidation only
S – Math Trek 1-2-3: Geometry – Hanging Solids (wasp nest image) – students
are shown net drawings of various polyhedra, then are given a number of faces,
edges, and vertices: their task at each panel is click on the net that matches the
given description – recommendation: use for consolidation only after terminology
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construct rectangular prisms (e.g., using
given paper nets; using Polydrons), and
describe properties (i.e., number and shape
of faces, edges, vertices) of the prisms
Geometric Relationships
solve problems requiring the greatest or
3m55
least number of two-dimensional shapes
(e.g., pattern blocks) needed to compose a
larger shape in a variety of ways (e.g., to
cover an outline puzzle)
3m54
3m56
3m57
explain the relationships between different
types of quadrilaterals (e.g., a square is a
rectangle because a square has four sides
and four right angles)
identify and describe the two-dimensional
shapes that can be found in a three-
Teacher Technology Companion for Grade 3
and plenty of hands-on experience has been had
W – Virtual Manipulative Platonic Solids http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_128_g_2_t_3.html?open=instructions
Manipulate polyhedra in virtual space; properties can be counted by the program
with user input (see “Instructions” in the applet).- recommendation: use for
extension/consolidation after hands-on experience
W – Geometric Solids – virtual polyhedra you can manipulate and re-color
http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=70.- recommendation: use
for extension/consolidation after hands-on experience
W – Paper Models of Polyhedra - http://www.korthalsaltes.com/index.html
On this site are more than eighty paper models available for free (pdf files).
S – Mathville Jungleway – Make a Shape (leaf with rectangle, top row left – fit
together the given shapes to make another shape– recommendation: use for
consolidation only
W – Virtual Pattern Blocks - http://arcytech.org/java/patterns/patterns_j.shtml
Tools in this Java applet make it quite easy to compose one shape using others
(e.g. composing a hexagon using smaller shapes)
W – Virtual Pattern Blocks – from the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_170_g_2_t_3.html?open=activities
an alternate set of virtual blocks: these have more flexibility than the link above;
however, it’s a little more difficult to learn their usage
W – Tangrams - Use all seven Chinese puzzle pieces to make shapes and solve
problems – from the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_289_g_2_t_3.html?open=activities
W – Patch Tool - Design a pattern using geometric shapes.
http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=27
W - Building an Icosahedron as a Class Project http://www.geom.uiuc.edu/docs/education/build-icos/
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dimensional figure
describe and name prisms and pyramids by
the shape of their base
identify congruent two-dimensional shapes
3m59
by manipulating and matching concrete
materials
Location and Movement
describe movement from one location to
3m60
another using a grid map (e.g., to get from
the swings to the sandbox, move three
squares to the right and two squares down)
identify flips, slides, and turns, through
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investigation using concrete materials and
physical motion, and name flips, slides, and
turns as reflections, translations, and
rotations (e.g., a slide to the right is a
translation; a turn is a rotation)
This illustrated guide gives step-by-step instructions on how to construct a twentysided geometric figure, the icosahedron, using equilateral triangles made from
commonly available art supplies. Although this project was designed for middleschool and high-school students, it could be adapted for grade 3 with some
additional teacher preparation.
3m58
3m62
complete and describe designs and pictures
of images that have a vertical, horizontal, or
diagonal line of symmetry
Teacher Technology Companion for Grade 3
W - Ladybug Leaf – Program a ladybug to hide behind a leaf.
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_287_g_2_t_3.html?open=activities
“Programming” the ladybug involves using 90º as well as 45º angles on a hidden
but predictable grid; use to challenge students.
S – Math Trek 1-2-3: Geometry – Poster Making (mouse image) – students are
shown an original and an image, then are to state which kind of translation was
used – recommendation: use for consolidation only
W – Virtual Pattern Blocks - http://arcytech.org/java/patterns/patterns_j.shtml
Tools in this Java applet make it quite easy to compose one shape using others
(e.g. composing a hexagon using smaller shapes)
W – Virtual Pattern Blocks – from the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives
http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_170_g_2_t_3.html?open=activities
an alternate set of virtual blocks: these have more flexibility than the link above;
however, it’s a little more difficult to learn their usage
S – Math Trek 1-2-3: Geometry – Let’s Fold (butterfly image) – students are
given an image, then are to move a slider to show where the line of symmetry is
located – recommendation: use for consolidation only
S – Math Trek 1-2-3: Geometry – Pictures from the Farm (tractor image) –
students look for farm objects that have matching halves – recommendation: use
for consolidation only
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