Shape it up!!! Math 1512 Post #3

Shapes, lines, angles, and measurements. All the basic elements for introducing geometry. What is a good way to introduce all of these concepts while allowing the students to work "hands on"? Manipulatives are a wonderful teaching tool. One manipulative that is a wonderful tool for geometry is the geoboard. Geoboards can be used to create shapes, lines, angles, and calculate measurements. They are fun and easy to use. I love the geoboard, it is a wonderful manipulative! It creates a picture for the students when working out problems.

There are a number of different forms of the geoboard that you can use in your classroom. You can use basic photocopies of a dotted geoboard and allow the students to draw and color their shapes, lines, and angles. You can also use hand held geoboards, or make your own hand held geoboards. You can even incorporate technology into your geometry lesson and use online geoboards.

There are so many useful manipulatives available to use as teaching tools, I feel that it is important for teachers to take advantage of them. They allow the students to have a variety of different teaching styles and help engage them in many different learning activities that are fun and exciting, making for memorable learning experiences.