[cassita]

Hello All,

I'm creating an SIOP lesson plan for 5th grade math. We are identifying different triangles.
I need of couple of methods on how to build their background knowledge about triangles for ESL. Any feedback will be highly appreciated.

Thanks

[elltch]

First, brainstorm what they already know about triangles and write their responses on a chart.

Show some examples. Perhaps print out some pictures of various triangles, or have some actual manipulatives, put them in a bag, and distribute a bag to small groups. They can look at and discuss, then see if they can add to the chart. Ask them where they see triangles in the real world.

Show this video. It's a great 2 1/2 minute you tube video clip on "Real World Triangles." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6bQft45LXs

[broomrider]

You can have them make triangles using cut straws and pipe cleaner pieces--they can do the cutting. Use the pipe cleaners (chenille craft thingies) to connect 3 lengths of straw. Students can manipulate the joins to create a variety of triangle types: acute, obtuse, right. You can also have them experiment with different lengths of the straws. Congruent figures. The straws are the perimeter, tracing just inside them and cutting out paper to fit inside gives the area.

You might look at a Marilyn Burns book The Greedy Triangle. This book explores a variety of shapes and might be handy for other, further geometric shapes. Search for Greedy triangle activities--there are lots, but most go beyond triangles into different polygons.

[cassita]

elltch, thanks for the input! I will watch the video today

[cassita]

broomrider, thanks for the input. I had thought about the pipe cleaner on yesterday

You could...
Grab bag triangle shaped objects and talk about them.
Make a word map with Triangle in the middle and makes bubbles that have triangular shapes objects in them. You could even pre-create an organizer on SMARTboard, PP, or paper that have the "bubbles" as a triangle, too.
Take a walk around the building or playground and ISPY triangle objects.