Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade R

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Introduction
• This week, we embark on an exciting journey into the world of "Space and Shape," a fundamental concept in Mathematics. We will focus on three basic two-dimensional (2D) or "flat" shapes: the circle, the square, and the triangle. Understanding these shapes is a crucial building block for developing spatial reasoning, problem-solving skills, and geometric thinking.
• For a South African Grade R learner, shapes are everywhere! They are in the circular wheels of a taxi, the triangular shape of a samoosa, the square windows of their homes, and the beautiful geometric patterns in Ndebele art or on a shweshwe dress. By learning to identify, name, and describe these shapes, learners begin to make sense of and organise the world around them. This topic empowers them to use mathematical language to describe their environment, laying the foundation for more complex mathematical concepts in later grades.
• Learning Objectives (CAPS Aligned)
• By the end of this week, learners should be able to:

Lesson summary

Introduction This week, we embark on an exciting journey into the world of "Space and Shape," a fundamental concept in Mathematics. We will focus on three basic two-dimensional (2D) or "flat" shapes: the circle, the square, and the triangle. Understanding these shapes is a crucial building block for developing spatial reasoning, problem-solving skills, and geometric thinking.

Lesson notes

This section provides the core knowledge for the teacher. The language used here can be simplified and adapted during direct instruction with the learners, using songs, rhymes, and physical actions. What are 2D Shapes? First, we need to understand what a "2D shape" is. The "2D" stands for two-dimensional. A simple way to explain this to Grade R learners is that these are "flat shapes." You can draw them on a piece of paper. You can't pick them up and hold them like a ball, but you can trace them with your finger.

Shape 1: The Circle What is it? A circle is a perfectly round shape. It looks like the letter 'O'.

Properties (How to describe it): It has one continuous curved side. It goes all the way around without stopping. It has no corners (or punte in Afrikaans). It is smooth all the way around. There are no pointy bits to poke you! Why and How? We can draw a circle by starting at one point and drawing a curved line that comes all the way back to meet where it started. We can demonstrate this by tracing the rim of a cup or a plate. South African

Examples: Money: A R5 coin or a R1 coin.

Food: The top of a pot of pap, a biscuit, or a slice of tomato.

Transport: The wheels of a car, taxi, or bicycle. The steering wheel.

Nature: The sun or a full moon. 

Shape 2: The Square What is it? A square is a special shape with four equal sides.

Properties (How to describe it): It has four straight sides.

We can count them: one, two, three, four. All four sides are the same length (they are equal). You can show this by measuring them with your finger or a block. It has four corners (vertices). These are the pointy bits where the sides meet.

We can count them: one, two, three, four. Why and How? A square is a square because all its sides are perfectly equal, and all its corners are perfectly pointy and the same. If one side is longer, it becomes a different shape (a rectangle). South African

Examples: Home: A window pane, a floor tile, or a small facecloth.

Food: A slice of sandwich bread (before it's cut), a Marie biscuit, or a block of chocolate.

Games: A side of a dice or a block in a building set. 

Shape 3: The Triangle What is it? A triangle is a shape with three sides. The name "tri" means three.

Properties (How to describe it): It has three straight sides.

We can count them: one, two, three. It has three corners (vertices). These are the pointy bits where the sides meet.

We can count them: one, two, three. Why and How? The sides of a triangle can be different lengths, but as long as it has three straight sides and three corners, it is always a triangle. South African

Examples: Food: A samoosa, a slice of pizza or pie, or a Dorito chip.

Buildings: The roof of many houses (especially RDP houses) looks like a triangle from the side.

Road Signs: A warning sign on the road (e.g., the sign for "stop ahead" or "animals crossing") is often a triangle.

Art: Triangles are very common in the geometric patterns of Ndebele art.  Guided Practice (With Solutions) These activities are designed to be done together as a class, with the teacher leading and guiding the learners.

Activity 1: Shape Hunt in the Classroom Question: "Let's be shape detectives! I want everyone to look carefully around our classroom. Can you find and point to something that is the shape of a circle?" (Repeat for square and triangle). Worked Solution &

Commentary: The teacher asks for a circle. A learner might point to the clock on the wall. Teacher's

Commentary: "Excellent, Sipho! The clock is a circle. Let's trace it in the air with our fingers. See how it is round and has no corners? That is a perfect circle. Can anyone find another one?" (Another learner might point to the bottom of a dustbin or the lid of a glue stick). The teacher then asks for a square. A learner might point to a book cover or a floor tile. Teacher's

Commentary: "Well done, Lerato! That floor tile is a square.

Let's count its sides together: one, two, three, four.

And let's count its pointy corners: one, two, three, four. All the sides look the same length. It is a square!" The teacher then asks for a triangle. This might be harder to find. Teacher's

Commentary: "Finding a triangle can be tricky! Let's look at our building blocks. Ah, here is one!

Let's count its sides: one, two, three. It has three corners. This is a triangle. Maybe the roof of the house in our book corner picture is also a triangle?" Activity 2: Playdough Shapes Question: "I am giving everyone a piece of playdough. First, can you roll your playdough into a long snake? Now, can you use your snake to make a triangle?" (Repeat for circle and square).