Measurement and Geometry (TOS Review)

Emily and I have been trying out a unique way to learn geometry. Area Formulas for Parallelograms, Triangles, and Trapezoids, published by AIMS Education Foundation provides a hands-on way to learn about area. This book is part of AIMS’ Essential Math line and is appropriate for students in Grades 6-8.
Each unit has several components for the students:

1. Hands-on investigation, which includes measuring, cutting and re-forming shapes, and experimentation
   
2. Animations and videos (available on the included cd-rom)
   
3. Problem solving pages
   
4. Comics that reinforce the concepts

Teaching helps include:

1. A video (viewable from the included cd-rom) that explains the lesson and what the students will be doing and learning
   
2. Student reproducibles that can be printed from the cd-rom
   
3. Slide shows and animations to visually illustrate the concepts

I like this book a lot! Emily has been engaged and excited about using it (which is often not the case for math!) Many of the lessons involve cutting up and re-forming the shapes in order to measure area on a grid or forming a shape for which the student already knows the formula in order to master and understand a new formula.  The hands-on approach helps her (and me) see why the formulas work. I think that in the future, if she forgets the formula for a parallelogram or triangle, she will be able to logically and quickly figure it out. The animations and comic strips do a good job of reinforcing what she learns.

Area Formulas for Parallelograms, Triangles, and Trapezoids and other books in this series are available from AIMS Educational Foundation for $9.95. You may read more reviews of this book and other AIMs books at the TOS Blog.

As a TOS Crew member, I received a free copy of this book and cd-rom set from AIMs Education Foundation. All opinions are my own.