Making Sense of Geometry (MSG) centers on two- and three-dimensional shapes and their properties. The implementation focus involves teaching understanding through problem-based instruction: three-part student-centered lessons that include Launch, Explore, Summarize (Van de Walle, et al., 2014 and Smith & Stein, 2011).
Big Ideas:
- Geometric shapes, their components (e.g., sides, angles, faces), their properties, and their categorization based on those properties (Progressions)
- Composing and decomposing geometric shapes (Progressions)
- Spatial relations and spatial structuring (Progressions)
- Teaching for understanding through problem based instructional tasks (5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive Mathematics Discussions)
Course Goals:
Participants will:
- Reflect on the major ideas of K-8 geometry and examine how children develop those ideas (based on the Progressions).
- Explore children’s thinking to reveal the issues children must work through to develop an understanding of geometry concepts.
- Explore their own thinking and understanding of geometry vocabulary and concepts.
- Implement problem-based instructional tasks in their own classroom.
- Develop an understanding of geometry that includes shapes, their components, their properties, and their categorization based on those properties.
- Develop an understanding of composing and decomposing geometric shapes.
- Develop an understanding of spatial relations and spatial structuring.
- Develop new insights into children’s thinking about shape by looking at the ways they describe the shape of objects, compose and decompose shapes, and develop spatial reasoning.
- Make connections between geometry content/tasks and the Common Core Content Standards and Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMP).
- Experience, implement, and reflect on problem-based instruction.