Geometry Puzzles

Introduction

• Gather the class together and show them a triangle drawn on a large piece of paper or displayed on the whiteboard. Ask, “What makes a triangle special?” Student answers might include: Three sides, three corners, or three vertices.
• Review the meaning of an attribute as it relates to shapes. An attribute is something that describes a shape, such as the color, size, shape, or number of sides/corners/vertices.
• Review the definition of defining and non-defining attributes. A defining attribute is something a shape always has that makes it unique. For example, a triangle always has three sides. Also explain that a non-defining attribute is something that a shape might have and/or many shapes can share -- for example, a size or color of a shape.
• Explain that today you are going to play a game called “Shape Quiz” with a partner to practice matching a shape to its defining attributes.