Geometry and movement

During many years, teachers used to give their lesson by isolating the subjects, there was no space for the union of some of them. However, over the years many researchers have proved the importance of working transversely. For this reason, today I will give you some tips as well as information that you may use in your future geometry lessons. 

In the learning of geometry, it is relevant to identify the geometric figures and learn their characteristics. Using games in your lessons provides you students with new opportunities to obtain motivation and to see mathematics as part of your real life. Geometry is one of the most intuitive subjects of mathematics since it is connected with reality ( (International Commission on Mathematical Instruction, 1998, p. 337). This connexion with reality allows teachers to teach these subjects to children from early ages, therefore, their perception of mathematics could be more positive.

All in all, this information says that introducing games in your geometry lessons is a great strategy for students to develop competencies for a attractive subject. However, what is remarkable to say is that if we work transversal geometry and physical education, we will be able to achieve better learning outcomes in students since by exercising they will bear in mind all the information easily and also in a more entertaining way.  

Have a look at this video, you will find more information about the importance of movement in the learning process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAyph8elDfc

Let’s see some examples.

1º Activity

Jumping, jumping

This activity consists of painting different geometric fugues on the floor as you can see in the photo below. You can draw them on your own or ask students to help you which is even better. By doing these drawings you have different options:

1. First, you can say out loud the name of the figures and students will have to go to that figure and sit down.

2. Second, you can describe one geometric figure and students will have to guess and go to that figure.

3. You can adapt to this activity as you prefer, imagination has no limits.

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What do we achieve with these games?

Well, these games require a lot of attention, memorization and stimulate imagination, therefore, it helps students to develop critical spirit. Moreover, it promotes independence and develops students' strategies to manage concepts and mathematical procedures. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg7oOAJoZgE  In this video you will see more games that mix geometry and physical education.

2º Activity

In physical education, we can find many different materials that allow us to create geometric figures, for instance, jump rope. 

How to use jump rope? 

• You can ask students to create the huge number of geometric figures they can with this material and then write them down on the floor with chalk their characteristics.

 

Moreover, these kinds of activities help students to have a better perception of the space and how to move around them.

 

And hoops? 

 

• Give some hoops to your students and let them think with the freedom they will surprise you with fantastic examples.

 

 

3º Activity

 

What is an important skill in education, is to foster psychomotor skills. For this reason, it is going to be very beneficial for students to create geometric figures with their own bodies. 

Example:

• You can bring to class different images of geometric figures and in groups, they will have to create them. It will help them to understand better the numbers of sides of each figure. 

 

• Also, you can bring some music and dance to your lessons. Creating figures while dancing will foster their memorization skills

 

 

In this video you can see some examples of how to create geometric figures with your own body:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd8AEjxX97k

 

 

4º Activity

For this last activity, you just need to trust your students.

• First, bring them to the gym of the school.

• Secondly, give them paper, scissors.

• Then ask them to create different geometric figures, the first ones that come to their minds. 

• Finally, when they have created all those figures, ask them to make compositions with those ( e.g. houses, trees, cars). 

This activity has a lot of potentials since students can manipulate geometric figures. Moreover, it is creative and playful. This task will help students to connect their surrounding objects and elements with geometry. The most important is that students have the freedom to move around the place, share ideas with their mates and overall enjoy learning!

For advanced students you can create more difficult figures like this one: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzY6Np_e4SE

I hope you have come up with some new ideas to implement in your class. As you can see, learning can be a creative and enjoyable experience! 

References

Franco-Mariscal, A. , Simeoli, P. (2019). Un enfoque basado en juegos educativos para aprender geometría en educación primaria. Sección artículos. https://www.scielo.br/pdf/ep/v45/1517-9702-ep-45-e184114.pdf