Geometry with Elastic Bands (So fun!!)
The best lesson I have done yet: Shapes. Why was it the best? We used white elastic bands sewn in a loop as a prop for making and understanding triangles, rectangles, circles, squares, and more!
The first part of the lesson consisted of one student creating the designated shape inside the elastic, while the rest of the class called out the defining characteristics (or "things that are special") about that shape. They experienced movement based on the features of each shape, such as dancing round and smooth for a circle, ending by melting to a ball on the ground. Or angular for a triangle and jumping 3 times (because it has three angles) to end in a shape with sharp angles. We observed and explored triangles, rectangles, circles, and squares in this way, and at the end, I even taught them about pentagons, which I made in the elastic by using my hands, feet, and head as the 5 vertices.
Then, along with an explanation of the privilege of using an elastic, I gave each student their own elastic so that they could make the shapes themselves. They loved this! They were so excited to use the stretchy elastics (and think they were scared that I might take them away), so all of the second graders were extremely well behaved and focused on being creative!
We played Twisty Shapes where the students twisted and spiraled through the space, and when the music stopped, I called out a shape which they would make using their elastics. When everyone was making the correct shape I would play the drum while the students twisted their elastic shapes into crazier shapes, any formation they could think of.
For a small create and perform activity they got into their table groups and they worked together to make one of the shapes using one elastic. Some groups I challenged to make a pentagon, and even a hexagon! They loved observing the shapes that the other groups created and I thought it was interesting to see them problem solve how to create the shapes with the set number of students in their groups. My teacher Mrs. Jackson had the idea that one day, as a class, they can work together using 6 elastics to make a cube! There are so many possibilities for creating shapes.
This lesson fits so well with the 2nd grade math standard which requires students to recognize and draw various shapes, and now, they are able to create them with their bodies too! Mrs. Jackson is going to buy and make her own set of elastics so that she can continue to have her students explore shapes in this way in the future.
The first part of the lesson consisted of one student creating the designated shape inside the elastic, while the rest of the class called out the defining characteristics (or "things that are special") about that shape. They experienced movement based on the features of each shape, such as dancing round and smooth for a circle, ending by melting to a ball on the ground. Or angular for a triangle and jumping 3 times (because it has three angles) to end in a shape with sharp angles. We observed and explored triangles, rectangles, circles, and squares in this way, and at the end, I even taught them about pentagons, which I made in the elastic by using my hands, feet, and head as the 5 vertices.
Then, along with an explanation of the privilege of using an elastic, I gave each student their own elastic so that they could make the shapes themselves. They loved this! They were so excited to use the stretchy elastics (and think they were scared that I might take them away), so all of the second graders were extremely well behaved and focused on being creative!
We played Twisty Shapes where the students twisted and spiraled through the space, and when the music stopped, I called out a shape which they would make using their elastics. When everyone was making the correct shape I would play the drum while the students twisted their elastic shapes into crazier shapes, any formation they could think of.
For a small create and perform activity they got into their table groups and they worked together to make one of the shapes using one elastic. Some groups I challenged to make a pentagon, and even a hexagon! They loved observing the shapes that the other groups created and I thought it was interesting to see them problem solve how to create the shapes with the set number of students in their groups. My teacher Mrs. Jackson had the idea that one day, as a class, they can work together using 6 elastics to make a cube! There are so many possibilities for creating shapes.
This lesson fits so well with the 2nd grade math standard which requires students to recognize and draw various shapes, and now, they are able to create them with their bodies too! Mrs. Jackson is going to buy and make her own set of elastics so that she can continue to have her students explore shapes in this way in the future.
This photo was taken the next week, on Halloween, because I forgot to take pictures during our actual shapes and elastics lesson. It shows a small group working together to create a triangle.
This sounds like a SUPER fun lesson Alli! Props are always a hit with the kids! I would love to know where and how you made your elastics?! Ever since UDEO, I have been trying to think of and find a way to make looped elastics/materials... I also like reading about how you're continually integrating your math knowledge into your ArtsBridge classroom! :)
ReplyDeleteSo the elastics I used in the lesson were actually from BYU Arts Bridge that you can borrow as an Arts Bridge student! My teacher is going to buy the elastic and make some of her own now that she has seen how beneficial and fun they are! You can buy 1 in. or 1 1/2 in. white sewing elastic in bulk, then cut the elastic into 7 1/2 foot strips. All you do is loop the elastic around and do a little zig-zag stitch on a sewing machine to keep it together :)
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