Experiences

The area of plane figures

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 which 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 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 is for him/her.

The concept of the surface, the calculations associated with the area is one of the most difficult skills for students in the primary school. Of course I'm talking about conscious, not just counting and putting the figures to formulas.
When the first and fundamental elements associated with the calculation of area are mastered I start to teach in practice. At the end of the grade 6 I take students to DIY store (I go there for several years and they already know me) and the students are supposed to choose a wall and floor tiles, bathtubs and other fixtures in order to design a bathroom and a kitchen at home.

Notes drawn in the store are very important because based on them one will be able to make calculations and valuations of all the costs associated with arranging a "virtual bathroom and kitchen."
Students must remember about showers cubicle, tubs, paint for walls, tile adhesive and grout.
Working on the project takes about a month. Starting from the sketches, the 3D projects in the relevant computer programs by preparing and developing the proper presentation, which shows detailed calculations for a particular tile on the walls and floor.
In the case of a simple pattern tiles allow myself to interfere into the project, so that the consciousness of the student in the proper preparation of the estimate is larger.
This project gives a great sense of understanding of the calculations associated with the areas and usefulness of the topic in school.
Awareness of students is very big and freedom of calculations as well.