Fun with Figures

Geometry is not only found in books, rulers, and compasses. It is everywhere: in the buildings we live in, the traffic signs that guide us, the objects we use every day, and the landscapes we move through. Teaching students to look with geometric eyes transforms the way they perceive the world and gives them a new tool to understand and analyze it. Observing the environment through a mathematical lens brings classroom concepts to life. When students identify triangles in rooftops, circles in wheels, or symmetries in tiles, geometry stops being abstract and becomes tangible. This direct connection between what they see and what they study strengthens their understanding and sparks curiosity. A great way to start developing this perspective is by using worksheets like the following: In addition, activities such as stepping outside the classroom, taking photographs, analyzing structures, or building models encourage active participation, critical thinking, and collaborative work. Students...

Geometry might seem like an abstract or distant concept when we think about early childhood, but the truth is that young children come into contact with geometric shapes from a very early age. Circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles are all part of their daily lives: they appear in toys, windows, plates, and even on the traffic signs they see. The key is knowing how to look at it… and how to play. A great way to introduce geometry to young children is through the creation and manipulation of objects using basic shapes. Building with blocks, shape sorters, and wooden puzzles not only develop fine motor skills and coordination, but also help children naturally and playfully identify, classify, and compare geometric figures. We can invite them to create their own objects or characters using cardstock cut-outs of different shapes: a robot made of rectangles, a rocket built from triangles and circles, or a house using a square and a triangle for the roof. Children begin to recognize tha...

Even so, if we do not have access to manipulatives or technology, we can still rely on other resources that ensure active and participatory learning. Sometimes, the simplest and most familiar games can become powerful educational tools with just a bit of creativity. In this blog post, we explore how traditional games like bingo, dominoes, or the goose game can be adapted to teach geometric concepts in primary school classrooms. The classic game of bingo can be transformed into an ideal activity to review and reinforce the recognition of shapes, angles, types of lines, or 3D solids. Each student receives a bingo card with different geometric figures (these can be 2D or 3D, depending on the grade level). Instead of calling out the names of the shapes, the teacher gives descriptions (for example: “A figure with three sides and three vertices” or “A solid with a circular base and one vertex”). The first student to complete their entire card shouts “Bingo!”          ...

Geometry education does not have to be limited to the classroom. Today, thanks to technology, it is possible to keep developing spatial and geometric thinking at home in a fun, visual, and interactive way. This blog post is dedicated to sharing digital resources and online games that can help children continue learning geometry from home. Many educational websites offer games specifically designed for primary school children, with activities that reinforce shape recognition, symmetry, area and perimeter calculations, and spatial orientation. Some of the most recommended include: PBS Kids (Cyberchase Geometry Games). This platform offers educational games based on the Cyberchase series, where children solve problems involving shapes, angles, and symmetry in a fun and engaging context. https://pbskids.org/cyberchase/math-games Math Playground (Geometry Games). It is a site with interactive games on polygons, transformations, coordinates, and more, all adapted for primary school level...