Jennifer Colon- The Greedy Triangle

Title: The Greedy Triangle

Author: Marilyn Burns

Illustrator: Gordon Silveria

Recommended Grade level: Pre-K-4^th

^{Posted By: Jennifer Colon}

Common Core Standards:

CC.SS. MATH.CONTENT.K.G.4. Analyze and compare two- and three-dimensional shapes, in different sizes and orientations, using informal language to describe their similarities, differences, parts (e.g., number of sides and vertices/“corners”) and other attributes (e.g., having sides of equal length).

CC.SS. MATH.CONTENT.K.G.5. Model shapes in the world by building shapes from components (e.g., sticks and clay balls) and drawing shapes.

CC.SS. MATH.CONTENT.K.G.6. Compose simple shapes to form larger shapes. For example, “Can you join these two triangles with full sides touching to make a rectangle?”

CC.SS. MATH.CONTENT.1.G.1 Distinguish between defining attributes (e.g., triangles are closed and three-sided) versus non-defining attributes (e.g., color, orientation, overall size) ; build and draw shapes to possess defining attributes.


 CC.SS. MATH.CONTENT.1.G.2. Compose two-dimensional shapes (rectangles, squares, trapezoids, triangles, half-circles, and quarter-circles) or three-dimensional shapes (cubes, right rectangular prisms, right circular cones, and right circular cylinders) to create a composite shape, and compose new shapes from the composite shape.

CC.SS. MATH.CONTENT.2.G.1. Recognize and draw shapes having specified attributes, such as a given number of angles or a given number of equal faces. Identify triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, and cubes.

Summary:

            This book is about a triangle that is dissatisfied with his life. He is tired of being a boring triangle and goes to the local shape shifter. The local shape shifter is able to help the triangle by adding another angle and poof he becomes a quadrilateral. The triangle however, becomes greedy and is unsatisfied and keeps asking to change shape after shape. By the end of the book we learn many different shapes and where we can find them in the world as well as learn on character.

 Rating *****

I gave this book a five rating because it is a fun way in which to introduce polygons and different kinds of shapes. I also like that the book can be used across any grade in elementary school depending on the target of your lesson plan. The book is a great way for students to make real world connections by having them search for shapes in their world and is also a good way to build vocabulary in both literacy and math.

Classroom ideas:

Pre- School:

1.Make Photocopies of the pages of each shape and make each shape a different group of kids. (If possible blow up the images to half poster size to make images clearer). Give students black markers and ask them to search for their shape and trace it with the black marker.

2. Have students look through a magazine and find objects of different shapes.

First Grade or Second Grade:

1.Give students geometric shapes and geometric boards. Let them explore the shapes freely for a few minutes. Ask students to share their noticing’s about the shapes. Ask students to now try to use shapes to build different shapes. Again ask them to share their noticing’s.

2.Have students respond to a prompt such as “If I could be a shape I would be a triangle because…” (Students have to describe their shape and name different places they would be found in their world if they were to be that shape.

Third grade:

Have students go on a Shape Hunt around the school or around the neighborhood. Give them clipboards in which they can record where they find a shape and draw it. It could also be fun to use I-pads or cameras in order for the kids to take pictures of some of the shapes they find.