MPI - Day 7: Geometric Thinking

Today's focus was understanding Number through Measurement. We looked at the following areas:

1. Quick Images (Subitising)
2. What is Geometry?
3. 2D Shapes and Angles
4. 3D Shapes
5. Transformation and Symmetry
6. Pathways: Position and Orientation

Today was a great hands on session. I was reminded just how fun geometry can be, especially with all of the online tools that are available. If I was teaching this subject now I would be diving deep into the interactive activities. Getting learners involved by measuring angles and identifying shapes is a great way to make learning more engaging. It helps them not just understand the theory but also apply it, which ties in nicely with the curriculum's emphasis on building thinking and problem-solving skills. I also like how these tools give learners the chance to work independently, which is perfect for catering to different learning speeds and styles. Plus, they offer variety, so I could see myself using them to mix things up in lessons. As always I’d probably add some real-world examples to make these ideas even more relatable for learners, especially since as an adult its rare to use protractors, triangle angles, etc on a daily basis.

The thing that strikes me the most during today's session is the vocab that is used in Geometry. Geometry involves many specific terms, e.g., vertices, edges, faces, polygons, prisms. These will be new to many learners and may seem abstract without proper introduction. As a teacher, it’s important to ensure that learners not only memorise these terms but also understand them in context. This means I would need to use key vocab consistently during lessons, ensuring that definitions are clear, and constantly reinforcing these words through repetition, visual aids, and hands-on activities.

Side Note:

How cool is tessellation art?!