Please note: To save on the cost of photocopying,
the graph paper for the following stations
is provided at the end of these teacher notes.

	Getting ready . . .
		Please note: The PDF version of this resource contains graph paper, as well as triangles for station 5, patterns for plastic pentominoes required for station 6 and the table required for station 15.   Station #2 Circular protractors are recommended to develop the concept of 360 degrees however, the semi circles also work if teachers assist students in determining which of the dual scales to use. Students should use the 90 degree angle as a benchmark.   You can "make" protractors by photocopying an original one, cut and paste it several times on sheet of paper and then making an overhead transparency. Individual protractors can then be cut out for use. You may have to experiment with the first copy until the numbers are clear by adjusting the lighter to darker feature on your photocopier. A very inexpensive way to make protractors!!!   Station #3 Students should have their own geometry sets. Please encourage them to purchase good instruments. It is important that compasses screw or lock into place because they get frustrated when their compasses constantly open as they use them. For classroom management: have a few geometry sets available to use at stations. This limits the walking around and students having to borrow from others. You also ensure that good instruments are used for the assessment. Where students cannot purchase their own set slowly purchase a few from year to year until you have a class set or at least one for every pair of students.   Station #4 Students should recognise that these polygons are all quadrilaterals. One polygon, "B" is concave while the others are convex. They should also make the distinction between F and G and between H and I. "F" is an isosceles trapezoid, "H" is a kite, and "I" is a rhombus.   Station #5 Copy the triangles that are provided in the PDF version of this resource onto manila tag or cardboard. Foam board available at office supple stores also works well. Make the triangles for the first activity a different color from the triangles in the second activity to facilitate sorting.   Station #6 Plastic pentominoes are available commercially. A pattern is available in the PDF version of this resource for you to copy on manila tag for students to cut out. Have students store their sets individually in envelopes. You can also cut these from foam board available at office supply stores.   Station #7 This is an excellent method to show students the concept of scale drawings. The machines usually use percentage.   Station #9 A pantograph is an instrument constructed of pins and rods in the form of a collapsible parallelogram. Drafting engineers or designers use the instrument to enlarge or reduce a diagram. A simple model of a pantograph is a collapsible gate. A diagram of a pantograph that can be made from pins and rubber bands appears in the PDF version of these teacher notes.

Station #10 See station 2 for ideas about protractors.   Station #15 3-D shapes are available commercially both in wood and in plastic. When purchasing consider sets such as the set from Addison-Wesley because these open and students can use them for volume, surface ares and capacity experiments. It is important for students to make connections with the real world. Collect boxes of different shapes (Toblerone bars, OXO cubes, etc.) The riddles on the file cards can be used for quick oral math activities or in a math centre.   Station #21 Provide a fairly large circle in cardboard or a plastic lid (such as a lid from an ice cream pail). It is better if the circumference of the circle does not exceed one metre.   This concept can be developed by actually using different bicycles and having students experiment and record data.   Station #26 For ideas about protractors see station 2 comment.   Station #28 Provide cylinders such as used cans of different sizes: soup cans, corn cans, large juice cans, frozen juice can, salmon cans, very large popcorn tins etc. You may even provide cylinders cut from dowels.   Station #29 Triangular prisms are sometimes found in science labs (used for light experiments). Wooden mouldings can be cut into workable sizes. Plastic prisms are available commercially.   Station #31 You can use boxes other than jelly boxes. These were suggested because of their size. They are small enough so as not to require a large number of cubes. Individual cereal boxes work well.   Station #32 See Station 28, 29, and 31 for ideas about cylinders and prisms. Return to Math Central To return to the previous page use your browser's back button.