3
Building with shapes
Joyful Mathematics: Chapter 2
GoalChoose the right shapes to build a tower, a house or a robot.
New words
build · make something by putting parts togetherstack · put things on top of each othertower · a tall stack
Explanation
We can build with shapes. Boxes have flat tops, so they stack well. Tins can stack too. A ball rolls away. Put boxes at the bottom of a tower. A ball makes a good round head for a robot.
Worked examples
A tower of 3 bricks stays up. The flat tops hold the next brick.
A bus can have round wheels. Round wheels roll.
A robot: a box for the body, tins for the arms and a ball for the head.
Class activity
Build it. Collect empty boxes, tins and balls (or paper rolls). Build a house, a tower or a robot. Which shape did you use most? Which shape fell down?
Practice
1
Which shape goes at the bottom of a tower: a box or a ball?
A box.
2
How many boxes are in the stack?
4.
3
A bus needs wheels. Which shape is best for wheels: round or flat?
Round.
4
Which shape can roll away from a tower: a ball or a box?
A ball.