Introduction
Students will be able to identify defining attributes of basic shapes. Students will be able to identify the number of sides that a triangle, rectangle, square, and circle have.
Task
Ask your students if they know what defining attribute means.
Explain that it means a characteristic that specifically describes something. For example, a ball is round, so round is its defining attribute.
Ask your students to define non-defining attribute now that they know what a defining attribute is.
Explain that it is a characteristic that could be there one day but could be changed the next day. For example, the orange ball could be painted red, and then it would be a red ball.
Process
- Students will learn that a defining attribute is always present.
- Students will be asked a defining attribute about them, such as being able to breathe.
- Students will be asked a non-defining attribute about them, such as size, since size changes.
- Draw 2 columns on the board.
- Write triangle, square, circle, and rectangle in the first column. Note that the defining attribute for these is the number of sides and being closed.
- Students will listen as the teacher explains that closed shapes don't have any openings. Draw an example.
- Students will be invited to the board to write defining attributes of each.
- Students will be asked to identify some non-defining attributes of these shapes. Examples might include color and size.
- Students will be instructed to complete the Everyday Circle worksheet.
- Students will listen as the teacher explains that circles have no sides and are closed.
- Students will be directed to complete the Everyday Rectangles worksheet.
- Teacher will explain how items that are rectangles have 4 sides and are closed.
- Students will be given the Everyday Triangles worksheet to complete.
- Teacher will explain how triangles have 3 sides and are closed.
Evaluation
Have your students label a piece of paper from one to four.
Direct them to answer questions about the shapes. For example: How many sides does a triangle have? How many sides does a rectangle have?