Geometry Vocabulary
All of these vocabulary words and their definitions come from a great website called the Maths Dictionary. This website takes math vocabulary and puts it into kid friendly definitions with pictures. This website is a great resource that I encourage you to use. Click on the button below to access the website:
2D ShapesTwo-dimensional or flat shapes, have only the two dimensions of length and width:
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3D ShapesThree-dimensional shapes have length, width, and height:
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References:
http://www.amathsdictionaryforkids.com/
Vocabulary Research
Article #1: Designing Vocabulary Instruction in Mathematics
This article discusses the two different categories of math vocabulary. The first category of math vocabulary is called technical vocabulary. Technical words have a strong math connection that must be taught within the context of a math lesson. For example, the words parallel and isosceles must be taught within a geometry lesson. The other category of math vocabulary is called subtechnical. Subtechnical words are words that your child most likely already knows in other subject ares and these words generally don't have as strong of a connection to math as technical words. For example, the words mean and table are math related words, but they are also words that are found in other subject areas. For most students, its the subtechnical words that they struggle with. The key to helping students understand math related vocabulary is to provide them with student-friendly definitions and to provide students with meaningful activities to learn the vocabulary.
Article #2: The Vocabulary-Rich Classroom: Modeling Sophisticated Word Use
to Promote Word Consciousness and Vocabulary Growth
This article talked about helping children to become word conscious. A student is word conscious when they have an interest in words and their meanings and know when and how to use them in their vocabulary. It is not enough to just introduce a child to a new word and expect them to understand the meaning. For a child to understand and use new words, he/she needs multiple experiences with the word, that allows them to connect the word with different experiences. The article explained strategies for promoting students word consciousness.
Strategies for promoting word consciousness:
Strategies for promoting word consciousness:
- Connect new words with concepts that children are familiar with
- Introduce new words during daily routines
- Have children say the would repeatedly
- Use the new word in place of the familiar word in conversation with children
References:
Lane, H. B., & Allen, S. (2010). The Vocabulary-Rich Classroom: Modeling Sophisticated Word Use to Promote Word Consciousness and Vocabulary Growth.Reading Teacher, 63(5), 362-370.
Pierce, M. E., & Fontaine, L. (2009). Designing Vocabulary Instruction in Mathematics. Reading Teacher, 63(3), 239-243
Pierce, M. E., & Fontaine, L. (2009). Designing Vocabulary Instruction in Mathematics. Reading Teacher, 63(3), 239-243
Teaching Vocabulary Online
Spelling City
This is an awesome website your child can use to review their math vocabulary. You child can create their own vocabulary lists or use the lists provided on the website. Your child can use the vocabulary lists to complete the free activities.
Spelling City Website
Below I have included two links to free vocabulary activities. The activities are located on Spelling City's website. When you click either of the links, it will bring you to a list of vocabulary words. Above the vocabulary words are buttons with activities that involve the use of the words listed . The spelling test link, teach me link, and play a game link are available for free. In the spelling test activity, students click the "say it" button and then type the word in the box provided. If the player needs more help he/she can click the sentence button and listen to the word used in a sentence. In the "teach me" activity, your child can click on each word in the list and listen to how the word is spelled and used in a sentence. In the "play a game" link, there are various games your child can play that will test their understanding of the vocabulary words. Some of the games include, word searches and matching words to their definitions. If your child would like to create their own vocabulary lists, you can sit down and register your child on the website and follow the directions from there.
Spelling City Website
Below I have included two links to free vocabulary activities. The activities are located on Spelling City's website. When you click either of the links, it will bring you to a list of vocabulary words. Above the vocabulary words are buttons with activities that involve the use of the words listed . The spelling test link, teach me link, and play a game link are available for free. In the spelling test activity, students click the "say it" button and then type the word in the box provided. If the player needs more help he/she can click the sentence button and listen to the word used in a sentence. In the "teach me" activity, your child can click on each word in the list and listen to how the word is spelled and used in a sentence. In the "play a game" link, there are various games your child can play that will test their understanding of the vocabulary words. Some of the games include, word searches and matching words to their definitions. If your child would like to create their own vocabulary lists, you can sit down and register your child on the website and follow the directions from there.
Big IQ Kids
This is another online resource your child can use to review their math vocabulary words. For this website, I recommend that you and your child create your own vocabulary lists instead of using the ones provided. Once you and your child register, you can follow the step by step directions provided on the website to create word lists. Once the word list is created, your child can play spelling and vocabulary games that focus on the words from the list, that you and your child created. Some of the activities on the website are definition matching, word scramble, spelling bee, word search, sentence completion, and so many more.
Big IQ Kids Website
Big IQ Kids Website
References:
Teaching Vocabulary on Paper
Label It
Label It is a simple vocabulary activity you can do at home with your child. Have your child take an idea or concept from geometry and draw a picture of that concept. For example, the concept I picked was three-dimensional objects, so I decided to draw a cube. Next, have your child label the different parts of the concept that he/she drew. For example, in the image of the cube I created, I labeled the face, edges, and vertices of the cube. You can have you child create this images on flash cards that he/she can choose to flip through and quick review at anytime.
Four Square
Four Square is a well rounded vocabulary activity that you and your child can do together. Take a piece of paper and divide it into four sections. Have your child write a geometry related vocabulary word in the center. In the top left-hand corner have your child write the definition of the word. This is most effective when your child writes the definition of the word in their own words, instead of using a textbook definition. In the top right-hand corner have your child write the word in a meaningful sentence. In the bottom left-hand box, your child will write a synonym for the vocabulary word. For this part a dictionary would come in handy. In some cases, it might be more appropriate for your child to write/draw an example of the vocabulary world in the world around them, instead of writing a synonym. Lastly, have your child draw a meaningful picture of the vocabulary word. This activity would be a great way to check for your child's understanding of concepts before a test. Ask you child lots of questions during this activity to encourage them to explain their thinking!
References:
http://people.bu.edu/jpettigr/Artilces_and_Presentations/Teaching+Vocabulary.pdf