Illustrative Mathematics
Make Your Own Puzzle
Puzzling over what geometry activity to teach next? Look no further. This simple activity teaches young mathematicians how shapes can be decomposed into smaller figures, and how smaller figures can be assembled into larger shapes. To...
Illustrative Mathematics
Overlapping Rectangle
Challenge young mathematicians' ability to compose and decompose shapes with this fun geometry puzzle. The goal is simple, locate all of the rectangles shown in a picture of three overlapping rectangles. Perform this activity as a whole...
Illustrative Mathematics
Counting Squares
Challenge young mathematicians' understanding of squares with this geometry puzzle. The task is simple, identify as many squares as possible in a 3x3 array. Allow learners to work independently or in pairs as they search for squares,...
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: Overlapping Rectangles
The purpose of this task is to give students an opportunity to compose and decompose polygons to make rectangles. The students will be shown a picture and are asked to count how many rectangles they see. Explanations and examples are...
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: Make Your Own Puzzle
Students will cut a square into four pieces, and then will put those pieces in an envelope for another student to put together. The purpose of this task is to give students a hands-on experience with composing and decomposing geometric...
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: Grandfather Tang's Story
The purpose of this task is for students to compose two-dimensional shapes to create a composite shape using tangram pieces. The teacher will read "Grandfather Tang's Story" and the students will use tangrams to compose the animals from...
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: 6.g Finding Areas of Polygons
This task presents drawings of polygons on square grids and asks students to calculate their area. They will need to use a few strategies, including decomposing and recombining shapes. Aligns with 6.G.A.1.