Exploring Quadrilaterals

Reporting category Geometry

Overview Students explore characteristics of quadrilaterals
and sort various quadrilaterals according to those
characteristics.
Related Standard of Learning 6.14
Objectives
The student will classify quadrilaterals by pairs of parallel sides by sorting.
The student will identify and describe the similarities and differences in sets of
quadrilaterals by sorting.
Materials needed
uadrilateral sorting pieces !see below"# cut apart and placed into baggies.
$ copy of the %uadrilateral &otes' handout for each student
Instructional activity
1. (eview the types of polygons by displaying a triangle# quadrilateral# pentagon# and
hexagon and having students name and describe each shape.
). *istribute to partners baggies containing the following quadrilateral sorting pieces+
trape,oid# square# rectangle# parallelogram# and rhombus.
-. $s. students to name the type of polygon all of these shapes could be classified as.
!quadrilateral"
4. $s. students what else the shapes could be classified as. /nsure that all students
.now the name of each shape.
0. 1nstruct students to sort the shapes according to their similarities. $llow students to
describe the groups they created.
6. *istribute copies of %uadrilateral &otes' to students# and instruct them to
complete.
2. *iscuss results. /nsure that all students correctly completed the notes.
3. 4ave students use what they have learned about quadrilaterals to write riddles about
each shape. The riddles should describe the characteristics of each quadrilateral
without actually naming it.
5. 6lace students with a partner# and allow them to share their riddles and solve each
other7s set of riddles.
Sample assessment
1nformally assess students on sorting activity and notes.
8ormally assess student9created riddles.
:ou may also want to create a qui, to chec. student understanding of polygons.
Follow-up/etension
4ave students complete selected activities from %uadrilaterals and Their 6roperties#'
found at http+;;www.pen..1).va.us;<*=/;1nstruction;/lem>?;Geom>middle.pdf
!uadrilateral "otes
Name: Date:
Name of
Quadrilateral
Definition/Description
Number of
Parallel
Sides
Drawing
!uadrilateral Sorting #ieces