Experiences

Regular polygons - geometric constructions

Agnieszka Wojtas

Poland

Primary school

Maths

Teaching in class

Direct

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.