Poem Summary
A square is minding its own business when a triangle comes down and strikes the square in the back. A circle comes to the square's rescue.
Structuring the Investigation
Read the poem, "Shapes", to the student. This poem can be found in the book, A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein. As you read the poem, direct students to pay attention to the shapes mentioned in the poem.
Distribute the geometric shapes (square, rectangle, triangle, and circle) to each student. Direct them to arrange their shapes according to what they hear in the poem. As necessary, re‑read the poem several times, giving students the opportunity to check their placements.
Distribute copies of the Shapes Art activity sheet to each student.
If students have already arranged the geometric shapes, direct them to copy their arrangement in the box (labeled My Illustration) onto the activity sheet. In place of using cut out geometric shapes, the students can be asked to draw a picture of what they think the illustration should look like in the box on the activity sheet.
After completing the drawing, direct students to justify their illustrations and then to share them with each other. Encourage them to "argue" their case. (Remind the students that it is possible that a wide variety of illustrations will be drawn that are all entirely justifiable.)
Students should complete the remainder of the activity sheet. They will need access to the book, A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein, to answer questions 2, 3, and 4 on the activity sheet.
