Summer
Activity:
Build a Polygon
This geometry game will make your child a master of the polygon! He'll compete against other players by measuring and drawing out shapes with playing cards determining the length of each line. Careful though, the measurements of lines will need to connect in order to close a polygon. If the card drawn doesn't give the number he needs to finish his shape, start the line out or draw the line in another direction and wait to turn the next card. Whoever completes the most polygons wins!
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What You Need:
- Playing cards
- Metric ruler
- Pencils
- Paper
What You Do:
- Announce the point system to all of the players as follows: Face cards= Wild (players can assign whatever value to the card that they want), Aces =1.
- Shuffle the cards and place them face down in the center of the table. Each player needs a pencil, ruler and a piece of paper.
- When his turn comes, each player should draw one card and use the value of their card to draw a line in centimeters.
- In order to determine the length of line needed to complete their shape, players will need to use their rulers, as long as the value is not too large they can begin drawing the line. Make sure to write the measurement number on the line.
- For the second round, everyone draws a new card and traces another line which stems from one end of the first line.
- Each player tries to make a complete polygon by closing their figure with the next turn. If they can't finish their polygon with the card value drawn, they have two options. If the number on the card is less than the length of line needed to complete the shape, they can either start on the line that will eventually close the shape, or they can start a new shape stemming from either end of the shape they're currently trying to complete.
- When a player finishes a polygon, they need to state its perimeter. For each correct answer, they receive 5 points. Then, they can start on the next polygon.
- Whoever earns 50 points first, wins!
Helpful Hints: Remind your little one throughout the game that a polygon is a closed plane figure bound by straight lines, whereas the perimeter is the distance around a two-dimensional shape.
