Classifying triangles by sides and angles is crucial in geometry, but challenging for students! Whether it’s using colorful geometric manipulatives, playing triangle classification games, or engaging in hands-on activities, there are many ways to make the study of triangle classification less daunting and more enjoyable for students. With the help of 19 no-sweat triangle classification ideas, you can create a fun and engaging learning environment that encourages students to explore and discover the fascinating world of geometry.
1. Singing Your Way Through Math
No doubt, your students will be singing about types of angles in no time. The song, sung to the tune of Royals by Lorde, teaches students in an unconventional way how to remember the classifications of angles by their sides and degrees.
Learn More: Dylan Peters EDU
2. Real-World Images and Instructional Video
This video features a demonstration by a middle school student on how to classify triangles based on their angles and sides. This wonderful math resource also provides a classroom worksheet activity; encouraging students to identify and classify different triangular shapes found in their surroundings.
Learn More: PBS Learning Media
3. Playing to Learn the Ins and Outs of Triangles
Your students will break a mental sweat with this hands-on activity! You’ll give each small group 15 red, 15 blue, 15 green, and 15 yellow rods of varying lengths. Students will explore triangle classifications, illustrate their findings, and investigate the total number of possible triangles.
Learn More: Mathematics Centre
4. Printable Stand-Alone Worksheets
Challenge your students to practice classifying triangles (both by angles and by sides) during your geometry math activity centers time with these quick-access, colorful, print-and-go worksheets.
Learn More: Play Osmo
5. Classifying by Sides for 500
Captivate your students with a friendly Jeopardy competition with this easy assessment tool. Pre-made digital activities are great, especially for elementary math teachers with inquisitive students. Divide your class into three teams and have them take turns picking categories and answering the questions. The highest-scoring team wins!
Learn More: Jeopardy Labs
6. Isosceles, Scalene, Right Triangles
Introduce your 5th-grade math classroom to geometry concepts by exploring the attributes of triangles as demonstrated in this straightforward video. Students can create a wonderful reference chart to print and display!
Learn More: Infinity Learn Class
7. K-12 Online Math Program
IXL is a membership-based digital math platform that offers real-time student data with individualized, interactive math lessons for students to achieve specific learning targets. Using laptops, students can engage with virtual manipulatives to learn the properties of triangles through a variety of math activities.
Learn More: IXL
8. Learning Standards-Aligned Online Math Resources
Khan Academy math lessons provide digital math practice for students through demonstrations, quizzes, and videos of triangle classification. Its robust standards-aligned triangles lessons enable students to use their computers to receive top-notch, targeted lessons.
Learn More: Khan Academy
9. Hands-on Math Unit Lesson
Commence your math center rotations by instructing students to jot down notes in their math journals while watching this intriguing video that illustrates the distinctions among acute, right, and obtuse triangles and classifying triangles by sides.
Learn More: Math with Mr. J
10. Mastering Math Questions
Online math games are super fun for middle/high school-aged students! Have your students grab their computer and head over to the Turtle Diary site for a quick-check assessment on your triangles unit. Students will answer multiple-choice questions to show off their triangle-classifying math skills.
Learn More: Turtle Diary
11. Digital Math Game
What student doesn’t love interactive math games? Assign the game to students individually or play together as a whole class. Students will use the pictures of triangles to select the correct triangle category and display student mastery.
Learn More: Splash Learn
12. Classifying Triangles Foldable
Students can glue this resource into their math notebook/journal or use the template as a guide to practice taking notes.
Learn More: Two Plus Tutoring
13. Triangle Splat Game
This game is definitely a class favorite! Students will earn points by correctly “splatting” the correct angle as the various angles float around the screen. With an active board, students can use their hands to gently tap the correct angle.
Learn More: Sheppard Software
14. Wheel-ly Cool Manipulative
Create a triangle classification wheel using cardstock, a ruler, a protractor, a pencil, scissors, and a brad. Learners will cut 2 opposite cross-section boxes. Then, they can draw a triangle angle inside one box and its definition/name in the second box. Repeat and attach with a brad at the center. Spin to reveal different classifications.
Learn More: The4Pillars
15. Worksheet or Anchor Chart? You Decide!
Jackpot! Here’s a wealth of lessons for triangle classification worksheets, including cut-and-paste, multiple-choice, complete the table, and fill-in-the-blank activities. You can even enlarge them and use the images as anchor charts for review.
Learn More: Math Fun Worksheets
16. Color, Cut, and Sort Activity
Provide students with this printable and assign colors to triangle types i.e. right triangles could be red, obtuse yellow, or acute purple. Assign new colors for classification by sides and then get your students to cut and classify the triangles.
Learn More: Number Dyslexia
17. Nifty Triangle Worksheet Generator
Let’s differentiate your geometry math activities centers with this easy-to-use worksheet generator! You can pick from pre-made worksheets or design your own digital & PDF printable versions for your students to sort and classify triangles by angles and/or sides.
Learn more: Homeschool Math
18. Types of Triangles Classifying Game
Enhance 5th-grade math lessons with an interactive triangle classification game that involves multiple-choice practice and requires a computer. Each game provides real-time student data for teachers and students to monitor and analyze.
Learn More: Math Games
19. Hands-on Lesson Plan for Math Classrooms
Crafting can make math lessons interactive. Get craft sticks of various lengths and glue them together to form triangle manipulatives. Color the longest sticks pink, medium ones green, and shortest ones blue. Students will construct their own triangle manipulatives to practice classifying triangles.
Learn More: Smith Curriculum Consulting
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