Magical Movement

Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling

• If you are using a SMART Board, ask how you can make a triangle with the lines, and model the process of constructing a triangle with the line segments on the first slide.
• Continue to model the process of constructing a square with the line segments on the second slide.
• If you are not using a SMART Board, use wooden sticks or rulers to model the process of constructing a triangle and a square. For example, for the triangle, take three separate wooden sticks and combine them to form the shape of the triangle.
• Talk aloud as you move the pieces around on the floor to make the shapes so that your students can follow your thought process.

Guided Practice

• Explain to your students that they need to listen for directions before they create their own shapes.
• Distribute bags with toothpicks and a ball of clay or play dough.
• Model the process of pulling off a part of the larger ball of clay to make a small connector and using the small ball to connect the toothpicks.
• Guide your students in creating at least four triangles and four squares with the toothpicks.
• Use several student-created shapes to model the process of combining the shapes, and invite the students to demonstrate that process along with you.

Independent working time

• Give your students the challenge of combining the shapes they have made to create a new shape.
• Demonstrate the process of combining two toothpick shapes (and reconnecting pieces) before students begin, as needed.
• Challenge your students to create the following: a rectangle using two squares, a larger square using four small squares, and a shape made with triangles.
• Next, challenge your students to use both squares and triangles to create one larger shape.