Geometric Bodies and their Measurement Functions

Abstract

Lists three guidelines for the sound use of manipulatives in teaching geometry. Also describes activities that use manipulatives to teach topics in geometry and measurement and which illustrate the application of the three guidelines.

The practical value of Geometry lies in the fact that we can abstract and illustrate physical objects by drawings and models. For example, a drawing of a circle is not a circle; it suggests the idea of a circle. In our study of Geometry, we separate all geometric figures into two groups: plane figures whose points lie in one plane and space figures or solids. A point is a primary and starting concept in Geometry. Line segments, rays, triangles and circles are definite sets of points. A simple closed curve with line segments as its boundaries is a polygon. The line segments are sides of the polygon and the ends of the segments are vertices of the polygon. A polygon with four sides is a quadrilateral