Creative Geometry is a collection of approximately three dozen lessons on various topics in high school geometry including triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons, similarity, trigonometry, parallel lines, circles, area and volume. Each lesson involves hands-on engagement with the concepts and enables students to experience the concepts in a tangible way. The site is part of the larger Math Forum collection, (Math Forum, 3D Drawing and geometry, and Internet math Library have separate reviews on MERLOT).
Type of Material:
Presentations
Recommended Uses:
Classroom lessons; student tutorial and enrichment
Technical Requirements:
Standard Web browser
Identify Major Learning Goals:
The site is designed for use by both teachers and students of geometry. Its purpose is to use creative hands-on projects To to help students understand, remember, and find value in the concepts of geometry.
Target Student Population:
Geometry students and teachers, primarily at the high school level.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Basic mathematics
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
This is an excellent collection of hands-on activities that illustrate many of the important concepts in a high school geometry curriculum. The materials are well written and provide guidance to teachers as well as instructions for students. The chapters include triangles and segments of triangles (8 topics), quadrilaterals (5 topics), other polygons (4 topics), circles and other curves (4 topics), and area and volume (9 topics). Specific examples are obviously selected to capture interest, for example, an origami cricket that actually hops and an illustration of the dimensions needed to create a pyramid (tetrahedron) using a dollar bill.
Concerns:
none
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
As the author notes in her introduction, students often learn best when engaged in their learning in tangible ways. Each of the projects is designed to fully engage students in hands-on activities that often involve writing, drawing and constructing geometric objects. In addition, the author includes comments to teachers; these comments provide some classroom experience background and would be helpful to teachers who are considering the use of an activity with their students. The material includes an attractive set of motivational quotations such as I advise my students to listen carefully the moment they decide to take no more mathematics courses. They might be able to hear the sound of closing doors. (James Caballero)
Concerns:
none
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The activity instructions are clear and thorough and often include step-by-step illustrations as well as a sample view of the completed activity. The site navigation is simple and effective. Links to additional material are included where appropriate.
Concerns:
none
Creative Commons:
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