The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns
- Target Skill(s): Attributes of Two-Dimensional Geometric Figures
- Book Synopsis: Triangle was unhappy doing the same old things. One day, it met a shapeshifter who changed its shape into a quadrilateral. After living for a short while as a quadrilateral, Triangle decided it no longer wanted to be a quadrilateral. Again and again, the shapeshifter changed dissatisfied Triangle into other shapes until Triangle finally decided it was happiest as a triangle. Triangle went back to the shapeshifter to return to its old shape and enjoyed the rest of its life.
- Math Involved: This book involves geometric vocabulary and terms associated with two-dimensional shapes.
- Questions to Ponder:
- What is a triangle? How do you know when a shape is a triangle?
- What shapes did Triangle change into? Describe them in order?
- Where do we find shapes in our world? Give an example.
- Why do shapes with a lot of sides roll more easily than shapes with fewer sides?
- Activity Ideas:
- Have students go on a shape hunt to look for 2-D shapes around campus. Then, have students share their findings.
- Play, "Who Am I?" Provide descriptions of various 2-D shapes without identifying the shape. Then, let students guess the name of the shape. For example, "I have four sides and I am home plate on a baseball field."
- Give students a variety of shapes and have them sort the shapes by attribute or other feature.
- Book Link on Amazon: http://bit.ly/TheGreedyTriangle
