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Parent guide · Grade 1 Math · Unit 8

Lesson 8.3 Building Shapes

Written for the parent. Read the Say this lines aloud as they are, or in your own words. Answers for you are marked Listen for.

At a glance

Time
5 sessions of 20–25 minutes
Goal
Name shapes and their sides. See shapes made of other shapes.
You need
  • A few real coins
  • Blocks or cubes
  • Pencil and crayons
Print
Worksheet A · Worksheet B · the lesson page

Steps

  1. Do this: Ask these out loud. Your child answers out loud; no paper needed.

    • Ask: “8 + 2” Listen for: 10
    • Ask: “6 + 6” Listen for: 12
    • Ask: “4 + 9” Listen for: 13
    • Ask: “9 + 2” Listen for: 11
    • Ask: “2 + 1” Listen for: 3

  2. Say this: “Two triangles can make a square; six triangles can make a hexagon.”

    Say this: “Count sides and corners to name a shape.”

    Say this: “Hexagon: a shape with 6 sides.”

    Say this: “Trapezoid: a shape with 4 sides and one pair of parallel sides.”

  3. Show: How many sides does this shape have?

    triangle

    Say this: “Count the straight sides as you go around: 1, 2, 3.”

    Say this: “It is a triangle with 3 sides.”

    Answer: 3

    Show: Name this solid shape.

    cylinder

    Say this: “It has two flat circles and a curved side, like a can.”

    Say this: “It is a cylinder.”

    Answer: cylinder

  4. Do this: Your child does these with you. Let them try first; help only after a real try.

    Ask: Name this shape.

    rectangle

    Listen for: rectangle

    If stuck: It has 4 straight sides and 4 corners.

    Ask: Name this shape.

    hexagon

    Listen for: hexagon

    If stuck: It has 6 straight sides and 6 corners.

    Ask: Name this shape.

    square

    Listen for: square

    If stuck: It has 4 straight sides and 4 corners.

    7 more practice items on the lesson page, and on Worksheet A and Worksheet B.

    • Counting a corner twice.

  6. Grab a small handful of coins. Sort, count from the coin worth the most, and say the total. Highest total wins the round.

  7. Say this: “Tell me what you learned today. Show me with your hands or the counters if you like.”

    Listen for: Name shapes and their sides.; See shapes made of other shapes.

  8. Count by fives and tens to 100, then mixed: 10, 20, 25, 30 (as when counting dimes and nickels).

Spread over the week

5 sessions of 20–25 minutes. Stop while it is still going well.

  1. Session 1. Warm-up, then teach the new idea (steps 1 and 2).
  2. Session 2. Warm-up again, then show how with the examples.
  3. Session 3. Practice together, then play the game.
  4. Session 4. More practice on the worksheet, and the daily habit.
  5. Session 5. Quick check: narration and a few practice items. Move on when it is mostly right.