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Edible Geometry


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Keywords: Geometry, listening skills, language arts writing
Subject(s): Math, English/Language Arts, Technology, Special Needs, Information Skills
Grades 2 through 12
School: Berea Elementary School, Montgomery, NY
Planned By: Kristina Storaska
Original Author: Kristina Storaska, Montgomery
First hand out a handful of small marshmallos and stick pretzles on a paper plate to each student. Upon receiving the snacks make sure that there is NO eating the manipulatives.

Students will follow the teacher's oral directions for manipulating the snacks to form geometric shapes. As students are working make sure to take digital pictures of them manipulating the 'snacks' and a close up of each of the finished geometric shapes.


1. "Make a plane figure using 3 sides (pretzles) and 3 vertices (marshmallos)." Give a few minutes and when you are ready say . . . 1,2,3 let me see. Student will hold up their TRIANGLE.

2."Using 4 sides and 4 vertices make a plane figure." repeat the above way for students to show. It is important for student to wait until you give the signal to show their shape. If it is inclusion/collaborative classroom this will give student with special needs the time to complete the shape. You'd be surprised how many students with special needs finish first and have to wait too! Answer: square, rhombus, maybe rectangle.

3. Using 5 sides and 5 vertices make a plane figure. Repeat showing strategy(PENTAGON)

4. You can change the format of the directions by simply saying construct a hexagon. Repeat showing strategy.

5. You continue this lesson with any number of plane figures and 3-D shapes (cube, triangular prism, rectagular prism, etc)

You can record the number of sides and vertices of each figure as a whole class or each student can be resposible for his/her own records. Make sure to go over them to ensure everyone has the correct data. If you have access to a smartboard/active board you can display a template and have a beautiful record for all to see and help to fill in. This is an easy and instant way to display the information. If you do not have access to a smartboard/active board chart paper, chalkboard, etc, will work as well.

At the end of the lesson, let you students construct on their own. (Download the pictures as they work independently) They really enjoy this and amaze me every year. Lastly, the students may eat their manipulatives!

Use the pictures as a slide show. As the pictures are displayed have students review by naming the shapes orally or as a written review. I've done this review many ways. The more creative the better. Even using it as a way to transition and line up for the next class is exciting too. For sharing the memories, post the pictures on a school website for a great conversational piece on a home/school connection.
Cross-Curriculum Ideas
If you record the number of sides and vertices of each geometric figure, students can write a compare and contrast paragraph(s).

Student can write a 'how- to' paragraph about making geometric figure(s) with pretzles and marshmellos.

Follow-Up
Students my also record the number of sides and vertices each geometric shape has and compare them in an excel worksheet.
Materials: Digital SLR, Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Web Page, Slideshow, Camera Bags, xD Memory Cards, Digital Voice Recorders, Flash/USB Drives, Batteries
Other Items: 1 bag of stick pretzles, $1.99 each, total of $1.99
2 bags of marshmellos, $2/$4 each
1 store name brand paper plates, $3.00 each, total of $3.00
1 smartboard/ activeboard, $1,000 each
1 computer