Learning Objective
Maths – Geometry - Compare and classify geometric shapes
Resources
- String
- Black A4 paper
- Chalk
- Paper, pencils
Introduction Activity
Have the class sit in a circle on the playground. Give the ball of string to one pupil, and ask them to roll the ball of string to another pupil across the circle, asking the pupil to pinch and hold on to the string, before rolling the string across the circle to another pupil. Continue this until each pupil is pinching a piece of the string. Then ask the class to stand up, holding tightly on to their piece of string, and look at the web that has been created. Explain this is a similar process to the one a spider uses to create their web, and look together and name the different shapes that can be seen within the web. Revisit definitions of equilateral, isosceles, scalene and right-angled triangles. Ask the children to look for examples of these triangles within the web.
Activity
Divide the class in to groups of two or three, and give each group a piece of black paper. Explore the school grounds looking for spider’s webs – top tip – these are best found and seen in the mornings, and in bushes or shrubs. Ask each group to gently bring their piece of paper up behind the web, and place the web on the paper. The web should stick to the paper. Using the chalks, ask them to colour in between the web, the different types of triangles. If the web is very small, ask the children to look for and record on their paper how many triangles they can spot and the different types of triangles within their web.
Extension
Using chalk on the playground, ask the groups to re-create the web on the playground, marking the different triangles, and draw individual large-scale examples of each type of triangle on the floor. Can they also mark the angles in each triangle?
