As part of the Rialto Unified School District, Frisbie Middle School
was using the Glencoe instructional materials to teach mathematics. The
unit presented here uses the objectives found in Unit 14 of Glencoe's
Interactive Mathematics, but the activities have been designed
so that students can take extra time on specific mathematical
ideas. This unit works well if the class can regularly go to a computer
lab with Internet access and/or if the classroom has computers with
Internet access.
Introduction
to Polyhedra
Rectangular Prism: A cooperative group activity to construct perfect rectangular prisms.
Paper Nets
Print out nets and construct six paper models of polyhedra.
KaleidoTile
Learn how a tiling is built up from reflections of a single tile, reflect a triangle, and explore Euclidean and spherical symmetry groups. KaleidoTile
Handout
A chart of the questions used by groups of students working with KaleidoTile. KaleidoTile
Software
Download the software (free) from the Geometry Center.
Buckyballs
Links to Web sites with information on Carbon-60 (buckyball), a real world example of a polyhedron. Paper Net of a Buckyball
Print out the net and construct a model of a buckyball. Extra Credit Buckyball Speech
Challenge students to stand and speak about buckyballs.
Crystals
Information on real world polyhedra crystalline structures. Systems of Crystals
Information on the seven crystal systems with links to photographs of examples.
Paper Nets of Crystals
Print out nets and construct paper models of the polyhedra that are crystals. CrystalMaker
Interactive Crystallography
HyperCard Polyhedra Animation
Use HyperCard (Macintosh) to show polyhedra in motion. Students draw polyhedra and rotate their figures.
Elephant Puzzle
Print the puzzle and challenge the students to fold the net so that the elephant parts fit together correctly.
Polyhedra Speech
Challenge students to stand and speak about their polyhedra models. Journal Entry
Students describe polyhedra on the Web, using journal writing to process their learning.
Polyhedra on the Web
Links to Web sites with beautiful models of polyhedra. Polyhedra Essay Assessment of what the students have learned about polyhedra.
Objectives
Unit 14 is the second of six units for 8th grade students. The Unit objectives are:
to introduce the students to the concepts of surface area and volume
while focusing on the importance of measurement.
to teach the relation between surface area and volume and apply this in
various settings.
My specific objectives for the unit are:
Students will calculate the surface area of a rectangular prism.
(NCTM Grades 6-8 Standards Geometry and Measurement)
Students will name the characteristics (number of edges, faces,
vertices, and the shape of the face) of 6 specific polyhedra: the cube,
tetrahedron, octahedron, dodecahedron, icosahedron, and cuboctahedron.
(NCTM Grades 6-8 Standards Geometry and Measurement)
Students will use the writing process to demonstrate understanding of
the characteristics of polyhedra.
(NCTM Grades 6-8 Standards Communication)
Students will explore polyhedra in the real world through crystalline
structures and "buckyballs."
(NCTM Grades 6-8 Standards Connections)
Assessment
Students are assessed as they complete each activity. Group participation
points are given if the students have been actively engaged in their group
activity. Individual completion points are given as the activity or
assignment is completed. Points are given to students who stand and give a
speech on one of the polyhedra. The Polyhedra Essay is the final unit
assessment. To
receive full points on the essay all of the components of the essay must
be addressed.
The Math Forum is a research and educational enterprise of the Drexel University School of Education.
Polyhedra in the Classroom