Workshop 4 - Measurement [ Shape ]

In learning about shapes, young children should be able to :

• recognize, name, build, draw, compare, and sort two-and three-dimensional shapes;
• describe attributes and parts of two-and three-dimensional shapes; and
• investigate and predict the results of putting expectations.

Young children begin to know the concept of shape long before they enrol in school. They may first learn to recognize shapes by their overall appearance as stating that the shape is similar to the door or even the mirror. Clement & Sarama (200) state that teachers play an important role to address these ideas to young children because if they are learning about it wrongly, it will affect the misconception for years to come.

Visualising

Young children use visualization, spatial reasoning and geometric modelling to solve problems. In visualising, young children should

• form mental images of geometric shapes by using spatial memory and spatial visualization;
• recognize and represent objects from different points of view;
• relate geometric ideas to number and measurement ideas;
• recognize and locate geometric shapes and structures in the environment.

Teacher can help young children to recognize the shape by asking them to visualize the needed shape. It can be done by prompting them with questions regarding the needed shape. Also, by asking them to view the shape from different angles could help them to recognize the shape better. For example the shape of pyramid, if it seen from the side it is the shape of a triangle but if it is seen from the bottom, it will be the shape of a square. Even young children can improve their ability to visualize geometric shapes and transformations. Children can be asked to close their eyes and think of a square.

Children will also be able to visualize the shape when only the attributes of the shape are given.

Q: It has 4 sides, 4 points, 4 angles, all
the sides are straight and all the lines are connected. What shape is this?

A: A Square

Similar to this will be that instructions are given but the students are required to draw or make out the shape with the given attributes.

Q With the rubber band, make out a shape that has 4 sides with 2 equal sides on the side and 2 equal sides on the bottom and top.