This text and accompanying software for Macintosh and PC computers are designed to provide mathematics teachers of grades 5 to 8 with engaging student activities using The Geometer's Sketchpad. The materials are designed for use by pairs of students working collaboratively to form conjectures as they explore each activity. In each set of explorations, students use different Shape Makers, templates for a given shape that preserve the properties of that shape. To do this, students must analyze camera shots of the shapes in the various rooms and manipulate various Shape Makers to find a match with the security camera shots. Teaching notes discuss aspects of instruction as illustrated by teacher-student dialogues taken from actual classrooms.
Mathematical notes deal with mathematical and pedagogical issues that require special attention.
Student activity masters are included. Mathematics teaching in the middle school , v. 4, no. The vignettes and instructional materials are helpful instructional aids. Overall, I would strongly recommend the Shape Makers activities and software to accompany a middle school mathematics program. Quadrilateral explorations Quadrilateral exploration 1.