Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand basic concepts of geometry through the fun activity of throwing rocks.

Materials and Prep

• A wide-open outdoor space
• Rocks of various sizes

Activities

• Activity 1: Exploring Shapes

Take a walk in the outdoor space and look for different shapes in the environment. Identify and point out shapes such as circles (e.g., tree trunks), squares (e.g., windows), and triangles (e.g., rooftops).

• Activity 2: Rock Tossing

Stand at a designated spot and practice throwing rocks towards a target (e.g., a tree or a specific spot on the ground). Encourage the student to experiment with different throwing techniques and observe how the rocks move through the air.

• Activity 3: Distance Measurement

Mark a starting point and measure the distance between the starting point and where the rocks land. Use non-standard units of measurement, such as steps or body lengths, to introduce the concept of measurement.

Transitional-Kindergarten Grade Talking Points

• "Today, we are going to learn about shapes and how objects move in the air."
• "Shapes are all around us. Can you find any circles, squares, or triangles in our environment?"
• "Throwing rocks can be a fun way to explore how objects move. Let's experiment with different ways of throwing and observe what happens."
• "After throwing the rocks, we can measure how far they traveled. We will use our steps or body lengths to measure the distance."
• "Remember, always be careful when throwing rocks and make sure you have a safe target."