They are asked to measure the shape in as many ways as they can. They report their findings to the class. Investigate the occurrence of geometry in nature, art, and other areas. Students investigate the natural shapes that are produced by the processes of growth and physical change. They identify some of the simple basic shapes that occur over and over again in more complex structures.
Students bring examples to class and describe the process in writing.
Some interesting examples are honeycombs, pinecones, and seashells. Students read the beautifully illustrated book Listen to a Shape by Marcia Brown. The color photographs in the book move from the occurrence in nature of simple shapes to more complex ones. Children can be asked to describe and draw their favorite shapes innature as a follow-up. Students read Shapes by Phillip Yenawine.