Geometry Games for 4th Graders

Geometry

The field of geometry is broad and has many applications. Often, problems of other field become easier to solve when it is represented geometrically. The study of geometric relationships is used in the field of architecture and landscaping. It is seen that the many people think better visually. Geometry makes visualization logical.

The kids are introduced to geometry math during early school years. The geometry common core math standards involve an introduction to geometry in prekindergarten. Discovering geometry helps children develop deductive problem-solving skills.  

Many researches have shown that children learn better through games. In recent times, math games have become popular. One of the most important reasons to introduce learning games in Mathematical teachings is the excitement and enthusiasm it brings in to the kids. Math games enable children to experience success and satisfaction and thereby, develop confidence in their newly acquired skills. Mathematical field of geometry requires visualization for better understanding.

Progress of Geometry with grades

Related below-grade standard

Grade 3: The kids understand the relationship between shapes according to their attributes. They learn about the larger category shapes with shared attributes. For example, the shapes with four sides are called quadrilaterals. They partition shapes into equal parts. They learn to express the area of each part as a unit fraction of the whole. For example, they partition a shape into two equal parts and describe the area of each part as 1/2 of the area of the whole.

Grade 4: The kids learn about points, line segments, lines, rays and types of angles. The kids identify these in two-dimensional figures. They also learn about parallel and perpendicular lines. They classify the figures on the basis of the parallel or perpendicular lines. They also classify the figures according to the angles of specified size. Also, they learn about the different types of triangles in geometry. The kids also learn about line of symmetry for a two-dimensional figure. They draw lines of symmetry and identify line-symmetric figures. By the end of grade 4, the kids develop a deep understanding of what is geometry.

Related above-grade standard

Grade 5: The kids are introduced to coordinate geometry. They learn to graph points on a coordinate system consisting of perpendicular number lines called axes. They represent mathematical problems by graphing points on the geometry plane. They also learn to classify simple geometry figures into categories and sub-categories on the basis of the geometric properties. For example, all squares and rectangles are quadrilaterals. All squares are rectangles. They learn to classify two-dimensional shapes in a hierarchy.

Identifying lines and angles and classifying shapes by properties of lines and angles

• Identifying line, line segments, and rays: In grade 4, the kids are introduced to geometric objects like line, line segments, and rays. They learn to define geometry lines, line segments, and rays. They also understand the relationship between them. For example, they learn that a ray has one end point and a line segment has two end points. They learn to identify these in two-dimensional figures.

The kids find it easier to understand line segments as they see examples of it in daily life. However, they find the concept of ray and line in geometry little abstract. They also learn geometry symbols for naming geometric line and ray in geometry.

• Understanding Angles: In grade 4, the kids are introduced to geometry angles. They understand the definition of angle. They understand angles as a figure formed by two rays sharing a common end point. They understand that two rays are called the arms of the angles and the common endpoint is called the vertex of the angle. They build on their understanding of square angles learned in grade 3. They identify square angles as right angles. They learn about the acute and obtuse angle. They use right angles to compare whether the angle is equal, greater than or less than right angles. Solving several angles worksheet enable them to gain fluency in the identification of different types of angles. 
  • Identifying Parallel and Perpendicular lines: The kids build on their understanding of parallel lines learned in grade 3. They learn geometry definitions of parallel and perpendicular lines. They understand parallel lines as the lines that are always equidistant no matter how far they are extended. The kids understand perpendicular lines as the lines that intersect at right angles. The kids identify these lines in two-dimensional figures. They classify the shapes on the basis of absence or presence of parallel and perpendicular lines. For example, they identify square and rectangles as shapes that have two pairs of parallel and perpendicular lines each.

  • Understanding Triangles: In grade 4, the kids develop a deeper understanding of the triangle geometry. They get a geometry review of triangles. They learn to classify triangles as equilateral, isosceles, and scalene. They understand that triangle whose all angles or all sides are equal is called an equilateral triangle. A triangle whose exactly two angles or two sides are equal is called an isosceles triangle. A triangle whose no two sides or angles are equal is called scalene triangle.

They also learn to classify geometry triangles as acute, right and obtuse triangles. A triangle in which all angles are equal is called acute triangle. A triangle in which one angle is right angle is called right triangle. A triangle in which one angle is obtuse angle is called obtuse triangle. They also learn to cross-classify triangles as a right isosceles triangle. At this stage, the kids are suggested to make a geometry reference sheet including detailed classification of quadrilaterals and triangles.

• Understanding Line symmetry:

  The kids recognize lines of symmetry for two-dimensional figures. They identify line-symmetric figures. They learn to draw lines of symmetry. The concept of line symmetry is usually taught through a sheet of paper. The sheet of paper is folded into half and is cut into different shapes. When the sheet is unfolded, the kids see the mirror shape of the shape being cut. For example, to cut out a heart shape, the sheet is folded into half and a shape like this is cut. When the sheet in unfolded, a heart is formed

  So, the kids understand that heart it is a line symmetric shape.  For a clearer understanding, the kids need to have experience with symmetric and non-symmetric shapes. The kids also develop an understanding that a figure can have more than one line of symmetry. For example, a square has 3 lines of symmetry.

Geometric Measurement

• Understanding Angles measurement: The kids understand the connection between angles and circular movement. An angle is formed by two rays known as arms of the angle. The common endpoint of the rays is known as the vertex of the angle. The angles are measured by considering circle as a reference. The vertex of the angle is taken to be the center of the circle. The arms of the angle are extended to intersect the circle.  The angle is measured by considering the fraction of circular arc captured between the arms of the angle. For example, if the arms of the vertex capture 1/360 of a circle, the angle are called one-degree angle.

The kids understand that complete angle or full rotation around the circle is 360°.  They learn that obtuse angle measures more than 90° but less than 180°. The acute angle measure more than 0° and less than 90°. The right angle measures 90°.

They also develop an understanding of complementary and supplementary angles. They understand two angles are complementary if they sum to 90°. Two angles are supplementary angles if they sum to 180°. They also learn about adjacent angles, straight angles, reflex angles, and complete angles. The kids practice angle relationships worksheet to get a deeper understanding of different type of geometric angles. 

The kids learn to measure the angle using a protractor. Measuring angles using protractor requires lots of practice. The kids practice lots of measuring angles worksheet to get fluent in their newly acquired skills. 

• Decomposing angles: The kids recognize angle measure as additive. They understand that an angle can be decomposed into non-overlapping smaller angles. The kids apply their addition and subtraction skills to find unknown angles. For example, in the figure on the right, the whole angle measures 65° and the smaller angle measures 20°. Subtracting the smaller angle from the whole angle will give the measure of the missing angle. Therefore, x° = 65° - 20° = 45°.

Grade 4 Geometry: Foundation of Higher Geometrical Concepts

Grade 4 geometry forms the base of many high school geometrical concepts. It is important that the kids perform ample geometry practice before they enter the next grade. The kids can refer a geometry common core book or can search online geometry textbook. They can even download geometry textbook pdf from the internet. There are many geometry solver websites that provide geometry common core answers or geometry workbook answers. One can simply type in geometry textbook answers or geometry book answers in the search engine to find answers to their geometry textbook online.

The geometry practice can be made fun by solving geometry crossword puzzle or by playing geometry word search. The geometric games and geometry projects act as a geometry tutor. The kids can clarify lots of misconceptions through geometric games. A comprehensive geometry practice test based on the knowledge acquired till grade 4 prepares kids to perform well in geometry final exam and understand higher geometry.