Contextualization

The importance of shapes in our world

Look around you! You are surrounded by countless shapes. Your room is in the shape of a rectangle, the window is a square, your book is a parallelepiped, the soccer ball is a sphere, and so on. Shapes are present everywhere, from the objects we use every day to the monuments we see in our cities.

How shapes help us understand the world

Shapes are not only beautiful to look at, they also have properties that help us understand the world around us. For example, have you ever stopped to think why a piece of paper can be folded into various shapes, but a piece of wood cannot? Or why a ball rolls, but a cube stays still if you push it? These are questions that can be answered when we understand the properties of shapes.

Introduction

What are the properties of shapes?

The properties of shapes are characteristics or qualities that shapes possess. For example, one of the most basic properties is the number of sides. This helps us distinguish between a square, which has four sides, and a circle, which has no sides. Another important property is the measurement of angles. A rectangle has four right angles, while a rhombus has four equal angles, but they are not right angles.

Why are the properties of shapes important?

The properties of shapes help us understand and describe the world around us. They are the basis of geometry, which is the area of mathematics that studies shapes and their attributes. Furthermore, understanding the properties of shapes is useful in many areas of life, such as architecture, art, engineering, and even navigation.

Now that you know the importance of understanding the properties of shapes, you are ready to embark on a journey of discoveries and challenges. Ready? Let's go!

Practical Activity

Activity Title: Exploring the Properties of Shapes in the City

Project Objective

The objective of this project is for the groups to explore and identify shapes in the city, understanding their properties and applying mathematical concepts in practice. In addition, students should develop teamwork, communication, time management, and problem-solving skills.

Detailed Project Description

Each group should choose an area of the city to explore, such as the commercial center, the park, the square, or the school. They should identify different shapes in that location and then describe them according to their properties (number of sides, angles, etc.). Students should also take photos of the shapes found and create a visual guide to share their discoveries with the class.

Required Materials

• Notebook or paper for notes
• Pencil or pen
• Ruler
• Camera (can be a group member's cell phone, with parental permission)

Detailed Step-by-Step

1. Group Formation: Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 members. Each group should choose a leader, who will be responsible for organizing and coordinating the group's activities.

2. Activity Explanation: The teacher will explain the activity to the students, emphasizing the importance of observing shapes around them and working as a team to complete the project.

3. Definition of the area to be explored: Each group should choose an area of the city to explore. They can visit this area on a field trip or, if not possible, they can research it online.

4. Identification of shapes and their properties: In the chosen location, students should identify different shapes, such as squares, rectangles, circles, triangles, etc. They should write down in their notebooks the properties of each shape found (number of sides, angles, etc.).

5. Visual record: Students should take photos of the shapes found. They can use the photos later to create their visual guide.

6. Creation of the visual guide: Back in the classroom, students, in their groups, should create a visual guide using the photos taken and the notes made. The guide should include the image of each identified shape, along with its properties.

7. Presentation to the class: Each group should present their visual guide to the class. During the presentation, students should explain the properties of the shapes and how they identified them.

Delivery Format

The delivery format will be the visual guide prepared by each group. In addition, students should submit a written description of the process of identifying the shapes, including the challenges faced and the solutions found. This description should be at most one page.

Remember, the goal is not only to complete the project, but also to learn about the properties of shapes and how they apply in the real world. Have fun exploring the city and working as a team!