Geometry is demystified in a new addition to a popular and amusing series of math picture books from a trusted team. Comical cats and dogs guide kids through the essential characteristics of squares, rectangles, parallelograms, rhomboids, and other quadrilaterals. Angles and degrees are explained in words and useful visuals. Kids will get a handle on geometric vocabulary and can try out plenty of hands-on activities that will help reinforce the concepts. A glossary is included.
This monograph reports on an analysis of a small part of the mathematics curriculum, the definitions given to quadrilaterals. This kind of research, which we call micro-curricular analysis, is often undertaken by those who create curriculum, but it is not usually done systematically and it is rarely published. Many terms in mathematics education can be found to have different definitions in mathematics books. Among these are “natural number,” “parallel lines” and “congruent triangles,” “trapezoid” and “isosceles trapezoid,” the formal definitions of the trigonometric functions and absolute value, and implicit definitions of the arithmetic operations addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Yet many teachers and students do not realize there is a choice of definitions for mathematical terms. And even those who realize there is a choice may not know who decides which definition of any mathematical term is better, and under what criteria. Finally, rarely are the mathematical implications of various choices discussed. As a result, many students misuse and otherwise do not understand the role of definition in mathematics. We have chosen in this monograph to examine a bit of mathematics for its definitions: the quadrilaterals. We do so because there is some disagreement in the definitions and, consequently, in the ways in which quadrilaterals are classified and relate to each other. The issues underlying these differences have engaged students, teachers, mathematics educators, and mathematicians. There have been several articles and a number of essays on the definitions and classification of quadrilaterals. But primarily we chose this specific area of definition in mathematics because it demonstrates how broad mathematical issues revolving around definitions become reflected in curricular materials. While we were undertaking this research, we found that the area of quadrilaterals supplied grist for broader and richer discussions than we had first anticipated. The intended audience includes curriculum developers, researchers, teachers, teacher trainers, and anyone interested in language and its use.
A hands-on introduction to polygons that takes the fear out of math and puts the fun back in! Draw three dots on a piece of paper. Or maybe-- draw three dots on a slice of cheese. What happens when you connect the dots? With bright, colorful illustrations and a simple, funny text, Shape Up! introduces triangles, quadrangles, and other polygons to young readers, encouraging them to play along, and learn everything there is to know about shapes. Explaining basic geometric concepts and offering definitions for important vocabulary, this introduction to shapes, lines, and angles is to good to miss-- even if the jokes can be a little . . . cheesy. Created by a respected children's nonfiction author and former math teacher, this is a perfect grounding in basic shapes-- and a lot of fun, too.
Grab your jumbo popcorn—you're invited to the premiere of a 3-D movie, all about those three dimensions! Trusted math picture book duo David A. Adler and Ed Miller tackle the differences between two- and three-dimensional objects in their signature bright and kid-friendly way. Explaining length, width, and height-- and all the different ways we represent those figures-- Adler shows how changing the dimensions of an object affects its size. . . . with some help from a cast of funny, friendly movie monsters. Explaining key vocabulary in simple text and offering numerous concrete examples and sample math problems with included solutions, Perimeter, Area, and Volume is a perfect introduction to two- and three-dimensional geometry. The star-studded cast of monsters will help you calculate the perimeter of the set, the area of the movie screen, and the volume of your box of popcorn. Learning about dimensions has never been so entertaining!
I'm a high school math teacher, and I made this book to use in my classroom. The book is about the relationships among quadrilaterals. My students love the book and really get into it when I read it to them. It is a great review of the topic and also provides a change of pace. The students love having a book read to them, and they laugh at the corny math jokes. The story offers another way to present the material and that makes the vocabulary more memorable. I put the book at an eighth grade reading level, but it could be read to any math class, younger or older, that is learning about classifying quadrilaterals (trapezoid, parallelogram, rectangle, rhombus, square etc.)and quadrilateral properties. It is a fun book and great resource for a math teacher.
A dinosaur book with humor and fun facts—perfect for the youngest dino fans! "I'm a T. rex! I ROARRRR and I romp! I GRRROWWLLL and I stomp! I'm a T. rex." In this brand-new Little Golden Book, a T. rex tells all about his great and terrible self. Facts about the T. rex are humorously presented: "Does the T stand for toothy? Does the T stand for tall? Does the T stand for terrible? I am known as them all!" The ending reveals a surprise: the T. rex is still a baby in a nest, watched over lovingly by his "great BIG MAMA T. rex!" This Little Golden Book is illustrated by Brian Biggs, one of today's most in-demand illustrators. He brings to life the popular Shredderman books by Wendelin Van Draanen. Author Dennis Shealy is a children's book editor and the author of the popular Little Golden Book I'm a Truck, illustrated by the award-winning artist Bob Staake.
Circles were smooth and round. Good at rolling, spinning, and pushing. They all turned together to make things go. Squares were sturdy and even. Good at stacking, steadying, and measuring. They all fit together to make things stay. In a world where everybody is a shape and every shape has a specific job, Sam is a square who longs for softer corners, rounder edges, and the ability to roll like a circle. But everyone knows that squares don’t roll, they stack. At least that’s what everyone thinks until the day Sam takes a tumble and discovers something wonderful. He doesn’t have to be what others want or expect him to be. With playful imagery, this story considers identity and nonconformity through the eyes of Sam, a square struggling to find his true place in the world.
