Geometrical Cabinet

1. Drawer 1: Circles
o Shapes: 6 circles with increasing diameters.
o Learning Focus: This drawer helps children understand the concept of circles and how their size changes with diameter. It can be a fun way to introduce the idea of measurement and proportion.

2. Drawer 2: Quadrilaterals
o Shapes: 4 quadrilateral insets—rhombus, parallelogram, trapezium, and trapezoid.
o Learning Focus: Children learn about different types of four-sided shapes, each with distinct properties. For example, rhombuses have equal sides, while parallelograms have opposite sides that are parallel.

3. Drawer 3: Triangles
o Shapes: 6 triangles with varying angles.
o Learning Focus: This teaches children the different types of triangles—scalene, isosceles, and equilateral—by demonstrating the variation in angles and sides.

4. Drawer 4: Regular Polygons
o Shapes: Pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, and decagon.
o Learning Focus: This drawer exposes children to regular polygons, helping them understand the concept of polygons with equal sides and angles. They can also learn how the number of sides affects the shape’s appearance.

5. Drawer 5: Curvilinear Shapes
o Shapes: Ellipse, oval, curvilinear triangle, and rosette.
o Learning Focus: These shapes introduce children to curves and more complex forms that differ from straight-edged polygons, expanding their understanding of how shapes can vary.

6. Drawer 6: Right-Angled Quadrilaterals
o Shapes: 5 rectangles and 1 square.
o Learning Focus: This section reinforces the concept of right angles and introduces the difference between squares (all sides equal) and rectangles (opposite sides equal).

• Shape Recognition: By interacting with these shapes, children can easily recognize and name the various types of geometric figures. They will start to understand how shapes relate to one another, such as squares being a special type of rectangle, or rhombuses being a type of parallelogram.
• Visual Learning: The contrasting colors and the ability to hold and manipulate the shapes give children a tactile and visual way of learning. This multi-sensory approach aids in deeperlearning and retention.
• Spatial Awareness: Handling different shapes, noticing their symmetry, and exploring their properties help children develop spatial awareness—an important skill in many areas of math and life.
•  Introduction to Geometry Concepts: Basic concepts such as angles, sides, symmetry, and the difference between regular and irregular shapes are introduced naturally.
•  Critical Thinking and Classification: Children can sort and categorize the shapes based on properties such as the number of sides, angles, or type of symmetry, helping them practice classification and critical thinking.

• Shape Sorting: Ask children to sort the shapes into categories (e.g., circles, quadrilaterals, polygons, etc.).
•  Drawing and Comparing: Have children try to draw some of the shapes from memory after interacting with the insets, which will help them internalize the properties of each shape.
•  Shape Matching: Place the shapes face down and have children draw cards with the names of the shapes. They can then turn over the shapes and match the card to the correct shape.
•  Size Comparison: Use the circle drawer to compare how increasing diameter changes the appearance of the shape. Children can line up the circles in order of size and learn about scaling.

 

The Geometrical Cabin is more than just a set of shapes; it’s a hands-on educational tool that nurtures children's understanding of geometry through tactile interaction. By exploring the drawers
and learning about the different shapes, children can develop foundational skills that will be valuable in future math and science learning.