Lesson 7

Build with Straws

Lesson Purpose

The purpose of this lesson is for students to build shapes from components.

Lesson Narrative

In a previous lesson, students compared the length of rectangles that were lined up. In this lesson, students work with straws to build shapes. Students initially compare the length of the straws and then use the straws to build shapes. If straws are not available, other materials may be used as long as there are at least 4 different lengths of the material.

• Representation
• MLR8

Learning Goals

Teacher Facing

• Build shapes from components and name the shapes.
• Compare the lengths of 2 objects, by lining up the endpoints.

Student Facing

• Let’s make shapes with straws.

Required Materials

Materials to Gather

Materials to Copy

• Build Shapes Stage 1 and 2 Cards

Required Preparation

Activity 1:

• Each group of 2 needs a bag with at least 6 straws of each size:
• $$2\frac{3}{4}$$ inches
• $$1\frac{1}{2}$$ inch
• 1 inch
• $$\frac{1}{2}$$ inch

Activity 2:

• Students need the bags of straws from the previous activity.

Activity 3:

• Students need the bags of straws and clay from the previous activity.
• Gather materials from:
• Counting Collections, Stage 1
• Which One, Stage 1
• Picture Books, Stages 1–3
• Bingo, Stages 1 and 2
• Shake and Spill, Stages 1 and 2

Lesson Timeline

 Warm-up 10 min Activity 1 10 min Activity 2 15 min Activity 3 20 min Lesson Synthesis 5 min Cool-down 0 min

Teacher Reflection Questions

How did the work of the previous lesson lay the foundation for students to be successful in the first activity of this lesson?