Name ______________ Date _______________

J1 Family Letter UNIT 3

About the Mathematics in This Unit

We are beginning our geometry unit in mathematics. This unit focuses on twodimensional and three-dimensional shapes and the relationships among them. Students observe, describe, compare, classify, represent, and build with shapes. They will compose and decompose shapes to create new shapes. We will use geometric language as we explore the differences and similarities among shapes.

Compose and decompose shapes

A hexagon can be made from different shapes.

Describe features of two dimensional shapes

Triangles are made up of 3 straight lines, have 3 sides, 3 angles (corners) and 3 vertices (points).

Describe features of three dimensional shapes

A triangular prism has 6 vertices or points, 9 edges and 5 faces or sides. 2 of the faces are triangles and 3 are rectangles.

Related Activities to Try at Home

Shape Hunt Shapes are everywhere. Talk with your child about the shapes you see
every day. Together, you can look at everything from the shapes of buildings in your neighborhood to the shapes of boxes and cans in the supermarket. Sometimes you can include descriptions of shapes in what you say: Look at that part of the building shaped like a trapezoid. At other times, you can ask your child to look for specific shapes: See how many things you can find that are triangles while we walk down the street.

Building with Shapes Gather 3-D building blocks, construction toys, or empty boxes and
cans that your child can use to build. Children can try to build particular buildings or even their whole neighborhood. Talk about shapes while they are working. What shape(s) will you use for the roof?

Patterns Children can create patterns or designs using different shapes or observe
shape patterns in their surroundings.

Math and Literature Here are some books about shape that you can find in your
local library and read with your child. Barton, Byron. Building a House Burns, Marilyn. The Greedy Triangle. Cooper, Jason. Skyscrapers: Man-Made Wonders Dorros, Arthur. This Is My House Felix, Monique. The House. Friedman, Aileen. A Cloak for the Dreamer. Gauch, Patricia Lee. Christina Katerina and the Box Hoban, Tana. Cubes, Cones, Cylinders, & Spheres Hoban, Tana. Shapes, Shapes, Shapes. Jonas, Ann. The Quilt Morris, Ann. Houses and Homes Paul, Ann Whitford. Eight Hands Round: A Patchwork Alphabet Polacco, Patricia. The Keeping Quilt. Rau, Dana Meachen. A Box Can Be Many Things Rogers, Paul. The Shapes Game. Stevenson, Robert Louis. Block City