Lifelong Learning Programme

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Experiences

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TEACHERS EXPERIENCES FORM

Title of the Experience
Regular polygons - geometric constructions
Name of the teacher
Agnieszka Wojtas
Country where it took place
Poland
School typology
Primary school
Thematic Area
Maths
Experience typology
Teaching in class
Type of contact
Direct
Description of the Experience
Teaching geometry always makes a huge problem, probably due to the fact that teachers themselves have problems with "geometric seeing", and a good understanding of the subject requires many hours of work with children, for what teacher usually does not have time.

Due to the fact I am working in a private school with increased number of hours of math I use different kinds of methods which purpose is to teach the child to "see".
I start many topics related to geometry with the question: "WHAT CAN YOU SEE?"
It is one of the fundamental questions, to which I expect an answer because this can determine what the student knows about the vocabulary and what particular geometric element for him/her is.

I introduce the topic of regular polygons gradually and try to show the practical use of these figures. Their beauty that has been used in design for a long time.

Starting from the Platonic solids, through Archimedean solids and tessellation - at the end of 6th grade I organize a lesson outside the classroom, which includes creating regular polygons (hexagon, pentagon, heptagon, and five-pointed star and a seven) with the use of nails, string, funnel and flour.
Students in groups of 3 persons, on the grass, have to make structures that were previously studied in the computer lab and on paper.

The effect is amazing. It shows very clearly the child's self-reliance, ingenuity and resourcefulness. It gives a lot of satisfaction if the polygon has actually a perfectly equal sides and the design is made properly.

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