Make a Geometry Dictionary

What You Need:

• Math textbook
• 1 colored piece of paper (any color)
• 6 blank pieces of white paper
• Long necked stapler
• Pencil
• Markers

What You Do:

Making the Dictionary:

1. Begin making the geometry dictionary by placing the colored piece of paper in front of your child, vertically.
2. Next, have him stack one of the blank pieces of paper on top of it, but down approximately a half-inch. Stack another blank piece on top of that one, also about a half-inch down from the previous blank piece of paper. Repeat the stacking process until all blank pages have been used.
3. Then, have him carefully pick up the stack and fold it in half, making sure to not bunch the papers together.
4. Ask him to flip the papers over. Do not staple the pages until the geometry journal is complete in case pages need to be omitted or added, depending on how many vocabulary words and concepts there are.
5. Finally, have him write "Geometry Dictionary" on the colored piece, which is now the cover of the easy-to-flip dictionary.

Filling in the Geometry Dictionary:

1. Once your child's dictionary is made, it's time to fill it with the important vocabulary, definitions, and geometry concepts that he needs to learn.
2. With his help, use his class math textbook to find all the concepts that he needs to study for his upcoming geometry quizzes.
3. Divide the material into categories. For example, one category would be "angles" which would include obtuse angles, acute angles, right angles, and straight angles. The angle category would take up one page. Another category might be "triangles," which would include isosceles, equilateral, obtuse, acute, and right.
4. Write the name of each category on the bottom of each page, so that the name can be seen without opening the dictionary. This will make it easy to flip to a certain page while studying.
5. If more pages are necessary to complete the dictionary, open it and add a piece a half-inch down, and then refold. If less pages are needed, simply discard the last one and refold.
6. Next, staple the geometry dictionary together on the crease or fold.
7. Finally, invite him to fill in the pages with pictures and examples to explain the important vocabulary words and concepts. You may find pictures of shapes, angles, etc. in magazines and newspapers. Your child can also take pictures and paste them. For example, a bicycle lane shows parallel lines. She can also draw pictures and label them.