The Geometry Cabinet

Age

6-9.

Materials

• Appropriate drawer
• Three reading labels - "triangle", "square/quadrangle", and "circle"
  

Preparation

In this second presentation of the geometry cabinet (first being in Children's House) the visual memory is aided by etymology, and no longer by the tactile sense. therefore the emphasis on that element is eliminated. Instead the emphasis is placed on etymology - the heart of our language.

Presentation

1. With only the tray on the table, the directress takes out the triangle and identifies it.. this is a triangle.
2. The child is asked to identify the angles and count them (triangle: Latin tres, tria - three and angulus - an angle; thus triangulum - triangle).
3. Triangle means three angles.
4. Place the inset in its frame in the drawer.
5. The directress isolates the square and identifies it (square: Old French esquarre, esquerre <Latin ex - out, and squadra - square; thus to make square>).
6. It is such an old word that the etymology doesn't help us as much.
7. Put the square back.
8. Isolate the circle and identify it (circle: Latin circulus - a diminutive of circus - a circle).
9. Again the etymology doesn't help us because this shape has been called a circle as far back in time as we know.
10. As all three inset are placed on the table, review the first period.
11. Rearrange the order and continue with the second and third periods.
12. Invite the child to place the insets in their frames.
    

Variation

Give the child the reading labels to place on the insets in their frames: triangle, circle, square/quadrangle. Note: The word quadrangle is not used at this point.