ABSTRACT
Geometry in the elementary grades is so important. The research shows that students need a great deal of hands-on activities so that they can actually experience shapes at the concrete, pictorial, and abstract levels. This chapter provides a few examples that stress the importance of geometry as a kinesthetic and visual undertaking. Symmetry is something that provides many opportunities to have different experiences with. Students can paint pictures, work with pattern blocks, build geometric figures with Play-Doh, and other things. Geometry is an important subject that requires many different hands-on experiences. Students need to be able to recognize, identify, draw, analyze, compare, and classify lines, angles, and figures. They should have many opportunities to build, sketch, draw, and paint different shapes. They need ample opportunities to discuss and justify their thinking using numbers, words, and models.
