Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to identify and understand geometric shapes and concepts through playing family card and board games.

Materials and Prep

Materials: Deck of playing cards, board games such as Snakes and Ladders or Candy Land

Prep: Familiarize yourself with the rules of the chosen games and have a clear understanding of basic geometric shapes (square, circle, triangle, etc.)

Activities

1. Card Game Shapes: Use playing cards to identify shapes. For example, the number 3 can represent a triangle, 4 can represent a square, and 0 can represent a circle. As you play the game, identify the shapes and count the number of sides for each shape.

2. Board Game Path: In games like Snakes and Ladders, observe the path and identify the shapes formed by the board's layout. Count the sides of the shapes and discuss their properties as you progress through the game.

Third Grade Talking Points

• "In our card game, let's find all the number 3 cards. These cards represent triangles, which have three sides. Can you find other shapes with different numbers?"
• "As we move along the board game path, let's look for shapes like squares and rectangles. How many sides do they have? Can you find any other shapes on the board?"