Geometric Bingo

Lawrence, Anne                  Wells Community Academy
                                942-2580
                           
   
Objectives:

Learners in grades 7-10 will be able to name and identify the names of 
20 geometric shapes. 

Students will derive the properties of various geometric figures as 
questions are formulated to distinguish the shapes. 
                                         
Apparatus Needed:

Geometric Bingo game card, envelope of geometric chips for each player. 
Overhead projector and transparent game card with transparent chips.  
Teacher  must prepare game materials as follows:  Game cards can be 
made from construction paper and can be laminated for repeated use.  
Each board should be 5x5, or contain 25 one-inch square spaces. Label 
the four corners on the board "FREE"and add one of the following terms 
under the word "FREE": point, line, line segment, and ray. Cut at least 
twenty-one two centimeter square chips for each student and place these 
in envelopes for them.  Each chip should have a picture of one of the 
two-dimensional geometric shapes commonly called a plane. Consult the 
glossary of any geometry textbook for a list of terms for geometric 
figures. 
        

Recommended Strategy:

Supply one game card for each player. Each card should have twenty-one 
spaces or places with the geometric names that correspond to each of 
the chips in the envelope. Names should be typed onto adhesive labels 
and entered onto the game board in a random fashion. 
 
Prepare an overhead transparency of the game card and chips for 
purposes of explanation, discussion and calling the game. 

Directions:  Introduce this activity by treating the entire class as the
opponent.  Use the transparency on the overhead projection as the 
display board. Students work individually or as teams. Teacher explains 
that the FREE space names--"point","ray","line","line segment"--are 
givens which help us understand the descriptions of the twenty shapes 
that make up the game. Players should then be directed to look at the 
center FREE space and instructed to take the chip from their envelopes 
that has the stick-on tag. Players earn this center FREE by writing a 
description of their body size or dimension.  The student chooses a 
term from an arbitrary list of personal sizes that can be written on 
the chalk-board,i.e., compact, midsize, fullsize, sleek; or, obelisk, 
rotund, statuesque, etc.  Student selects and writes his/her body type 
on the tagged chip and attaches it to the back of the game board over 
the center FREE space. This part of the introduction is mainly 
motivational; thus, it is optional. The game proceeds as follows: 


l.  Caller draws a figure from the envelope containing the cut-up game 
chips and matches it with the form on the display board.  Students are 
then encouraged to pronounce the name of the shape, locate the figure 
among their game pieces, and place it in the appropriate place on the 
board. 

2.  The goal is to have players formulate a series of questions or 
opinions regarding properties of the figures as they attempt to bingo. 

3.  Examples of valid questions are as follows:
    "Is your figure a plane?"
    "Does your figure have diagonals?"
    "Is this figure a basic Sesame Street shape?"
    "Does this figure contain one pair of parallel sides?"

Scoring:  Players win by getting bingo horizontally, vertically, or 
diagonally. Players game chips may be left on the board after each game 
until all shapes have been called on the display board. 

Conclusion: As students play "Geometric Bingo" they are actively 
thinking about the commonalities and differences exhibited by the 
figures and the strategical value of the questions they ask.  The game 
can be modified to include various skills throughout a geometry course.