The Shape of Cities: Exploring Geometry in the Real World
By Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, September 11, 2006
Grade Level
- PreK-1
Category
- City of Neighborhoods
Subject Area
- Arts
- Language Arts
- Mathematics
Lesson Time
Introduction
In this activity students will find real-world examples of a variety of geometric shapes. They will conduct research, record observations, and write descriptions. A classroom cityscape will be created, highlighting what students have learned.
National Standards
1. Understands basic properties of (e.g., number of sides, corners, square corners) and similarities and differences between simple geometric shapes
3. Understands that geometric shapes are useful for representing and describing real world situations
6. Uses writing and other methods (e.g., using letters or phonetically spelled words, telling, dictating, making lists) to describe familiar persons, places, objects, or experiences
8. Writes for different purposes (e.g., to entertain, inform, learn, communicate ideas)
1. Makes contributions in class and group discussions (e.g., reports on ideas and personal knowledge about a topic, initiates conversations, connects ideas and experiences with those of others)
3. Uses visual structures and functions of art to communicate ideas
Objectives
Students will do the following:
- identify a variety of geometric shapes
- observe a variety of geometric shapes
- conduct research
- write a description
- create a cityscape using blocks and manipulatives
- create an oral presentation
- create a drawing
Resources
- "Find the Shape" handout
Materials
- computer with Internet access
- construction or drawing paper
- crayons, markers, pencils
- a variety of building blocks
- a variety of manipulatives
Procedures
Building Background
Shape Detectives
The purpose of this activity is to encourage students to observe a variety of geometric shapes in everyday objects.
1. Tell your students that they are going to identify basic geometric shapes. Divide the class into small groups and give each group a copy of the "Find the Shape" handout. Tell the students that they are going to look for shapes in three different locations:
- the classroom
- the school
- the school grounds
Teacher Note: If necessary, review each shape with your students before they begin working on this activity.
Steps for Learning
Build a City
The purpose of this activity is to have students create a cityscape using a variety of geometric shapes.
1. Ask the students to brainstorm ideas about what a person finds in a city. As a class, visit the following websites that show images of structures that can be found in cities around the world:
- New York City
https://search.yahooligans.yahoo.com/search/ligans?p=new+york+city
- Hong Kong
https://www-geoimages.berkeley.edu/GeoImages/Semans/semansone.html
- Paris
https://www.smartweb.fr/panoparis/visitparis_panorama.asp
2. Tell the students that they are going to work in small groups to build structures that a person would find in a city neighborhood using a variety of different geometric shapes. Provide the students with blocks and manipulatives to build their cities.
3. As a class, view the students' completed cities. Provide time for each group to explain to the entire class the geometric shapes that it used in creating their city structures.
4. Have each student draw a picture of the completed cityscape. Post students' art for others in the school and community to share.
Assessment
Create a class rubric with your students that will help them assess their learning. Use the following guidelines to help create the rubric.
- How many shapes did you use in your cityscape?
- More than 10
- Between 5 and 10
- Fewer than 5
- How many shapes did you find in your classroom?
- How many shapes did you find in the school?
- How many shapes did you find outside the school?
-Rate how well your group worked together.
Excellent Good Adequate Poor
-Rate your creativity.
Excellent Good Adequate Poor
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