Fourth Grade Math: Exploring Polygons
Since we’ve returned from break, fourth graders have been exploring geometry, particularly polygons. We have looked at how we name shapes based on their number of sides. They had fun learning the names of the polygons, especially the ones they don’t need to know, like nonagaon (a polygon with nine sides) and dodecagon (a polygon with 12 sides). They even used their knowledge of prefixes to try to name figures with even more sides!
We explored quadrilaterals in depth. We looked at properties they possessed, such as presence of parallel or perpendicular sides. When we discussed the definition of a parallelogram (a quadrilateral with 2 pairs of parallel and equal length sides), students were then able to infer that rectangles, rhombuses, and squares are all also parallelograms They were surprised when they realized that squares have so many classifications! A square is a polygon, a quadrilateral, a parallelogram, a rectangle, and a rhombus!
As the week continues, we will be exploring angles and identifying types of angles in relation to right angles. We will then begin to use protractors to measure and draw angles.
Stay tuned!