Twisting Triangles

These triangles twist and turn! How many different triangles can you suspend on a mobile?

• 1.

  A triangle is a simple polygon. Every triangle consists of three sides and three angles. The sum of the angles in a triangle always adds up to 180 degrees. Triangles are classified by their sides and angles. There are several types of triangles such as scalene, equilateral triangle, and isosceles.

• 2.

  In small groups, find out more about the names and types of triangles. Use Crayola® Erasable Colored Pencils to list your results. Sketch each triangle and list its characteristics. Compare your list with other groups. How many new triangles can you add to your list and show on a mobile?

• 3.

  On posterboard use your Erasable Colored Pencils to draw a variety of triangles. With Crayola Twistables, decorate and label them. Cut out the triangles with Crayola Scissors. Decorate the other side.

• 4.

  Punch a hole at the top of each triangle. Punch holes in the bottoms of some so you can hang more triangles from them.

• 5.

  On heavy cardboard, draw a large triangle. Decorate both sides of it with Twistables. Punch three holes in it. Tie yarn in the holes for hanging. Use yarn to attach the smaller triangles to the large one and/or each other. Make sure the triangles hang fre

• 6.

  Hang your Twisting Triangle mobile near a window so it can turn in the breeze.

Benefits

• Children research the names and characteristics of various triangles.
• Children identify, draw, and label several different triangles.
• Children create a colorful mobile with their triangles.

Adaptations

• Find some of the ways triangles are used, such as in architecture and civil engineering and create replicas of their uses.
• Count the number of triangles you can find in your classroom, school, or home. Make a graph to represent the class’s findings.
• Make a mobile with folded-paper pyramids. How many triangles form each pyramid?