Daily Lesson Plans: Upper Elementary Grades

In this small group exercise, students will create patterns with precut geometric shapes, then attempt to relay instructions to other team members so that they might replicate the design without looking at it.

Supplies:

2 sets of geometric shapes per group (I divide students into maximum of six groups, so I prepared six sets). You can use store-bought sets, or create your own.

2 file folders per group to use as privacy screens (one labelled "Leader", the other labelled "Followers")

Directions:

1. Prepare or purchase six sets of tangrams in advance. To create your own, enlarge and photocopy the patterns found at http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Suite/37... To make mine, I used those brightly-colored foam sheets that are used in so many kids' crafts today. I find this materials is cheap (I bought three 9x12 sheets for a buck), durable and very easy to cut. Use carbon paper or tracing paper to transfer the shapes onto the desired material, and cut them out. Package shapes in groups of seven pieces: 5 triangles, 1 square, and 1 rhombus.

2. Divide students into groups of four or five. One student in each group serves as the Leader, the others in each team work together as Followers. Have students set up a work area so that each Leader can sit facing their Followers, and the Followers can sit side by side.

3. Give each Leader a set of tangrams and a file folder; give each group of Followers one set of tangrams and a file folder. Instruct Leaders and Followers to use the file folders as privacy screens, so that Leaders cannot see their Followers' work, and Followers cannot see their Leader's work.

4. Instruct Leaders to use as many of their shapes as they like to create a design or pattern of some sort, hidden behind their privacy screens. Leaders work alone, and Followers are not to see this design. While they are working, Followers should set up their privacy screens and get out their tangrams to prepare for the next step.

5. When Leaders are done and Followers have their materials ready, Leaders will describe how to create the design to their Followers. They are not to say "It sort of looks like a horse," for example, but should instead tell teammates where to place each shape. They might say, for instance, "Lay down a triangle so the longest side faces me. On the left side of the triangle, put down a vertical rectangle...the

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