Lesson 3.2 Solid Shapes

Steps

1. Warm-up

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

   • Ask: “What number comes just after 5?” Listen for: 6
   • Ask: “What number comes just after 7?” Listen for: 8
   • Ask: “What number comes just after 8?” Listen for: 9
   • Ask: “What number comes just before 4?” Listen for: 3
   • Ask: “What number comes just after 4?” Listen for: 5
2. Teach the new idea

   Say this: “Solid shapes take up space. A ball is a sphere; a block is a cube; a can is a cylinder; a funnel is a cone.”

   Say this: “Some solids roll, some stack, and some do both.”

   Say this: “Solid: a shape you can hold, with length, width and height.”

   Say this: “Face: a flat side of a solid.”

3. Show how

   Show: Name this solid shape.

   

   Say this: “It has one flat circle and a point, like a funnel.”

   Say this: “It is a cone.”

   Answer: cone

   Show: Name this shape.

   

   Say this: “It has 3 straight sides and 3 corners.”

   Say this: “It is a triangle.”

   Answer: triangle

4. Practice together

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

   Ask: Name this solid shape.

   

   Listen for: cube

   If stuck: It has six square faces, like a block.

   Ask: Name this solid shape.

   

   Listen for: rectangular prism

   If stuck: It has six rectangle faces, like a box.

   Ask: Name this solid shape.

   

   Listen for: cone

   If stuck: It has one flat circle and a point, like a funnel.

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

5. Watch for
   • Calling a sphere a circle. A circle is flat; a sphere is round all over.
6. Game: I Spy Shapes

   Say “I spy something shaped like a circle.” Your child hunts for it. Then your child gives the clue and you hunt.

7. Narration

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

   Listen for: Name cubes, spheres, cylinders and cones.; Find solid shapes at home.

8. Daily habit

   Go on a shape hunt around the house and yard: find a circle, a square, a triangle and a rectangle each day.

Spread over the week

5 sessions of 15–20 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.