10 Activities to Teach Angles

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Teaching students about angles is a fun and interactive way to introduce geometry concepts. Understanding angles is important for students to be able to visualize and analyze shapes, as well as to understand relationships between objects.

10 Activities to Teach Angles

Teaching angles to elementary students can be challenging, but with a few creative and interactive strategies, it can be a fun and engaging experience. Here are 10 activity ideas to get you started:

1: Relate Angles to the Real World

Point out angles in everyday objects such as clocks, doors hinges, and table legs. This can help students see the relevance of angles in their daily lives and how they are used in the design and construction of everyday objects.

Image of an analog clock that reads 2:00

Use real-world examples that involve angles to make the learning more relatable and meaningful. For example, you can use angles in construction, design, or sports to illustrate the importance of understanding angles.

Look for real-life examples of angles around your classroom, school, or neighborhood. For example, a clock face has twelve 30-degree angles. A stop sign has eight 45-degree angles. Encourage students to identify angles in their surroundings and measure their degree using a protractor

As a specific example, many sports, such as golf, basketball, and football, involve angles. Demonstrate how angles are used in sports. For example, share how the offense uses a numbered route tree to communicate the most common routes receivers run.

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2: Introduce Vocabulary

Introduce vocabulary related to angles such as acute, right, obtuse, straight, and reflex angles. Use simple diagrams and illustrations to explain each term.

3. Collaborative Drawing

In small groups, have students work together to create a drawing that incorporates lines, line segments, rays, vertices, and angles. This can be a fun and creative way for students to apply what they have learned.

4. Angle Sorting

Discuss the different types of angles, such as acute, obtuse, and right angles. Give students a set of angle cards that depict different types of angles. Ask them to sort the cards into piles based on the type of angle, such as acute, right, or obtuse.

Image of angle cards sorted by Acute, Obtuse, and Right angles.

5. Angle Building Challenge

Provide students with various materials such as straws, toothpicks, or pipe cleaners, and challenge them to create different types of angles. For example, students can create an acute angle by connecting two straws at a small angle or a right angle by connecting two straws at a 90-degree angle. Use chenille stems and have students create and measure angles.

6. Digital Resources

There are many interactive digital resources available to teach angles to upper elementary students. For example, Math Playground has an online game called Alien Angles, where students must identify and measure different types of angles to save the planet from an alien invasion. Play a whole class game of Blooket Angles. Assign individual students a self-checking game in Google Slides.

7. Angle Charades

This game requires students to act out different types of angles and have their classmates guess the type of angle. For example, a student can act out a right angle by holding their arms out to form a 90-degree angle. Have your students play as a whole class, in small groups, or with partners. This would be a fun morning meeting activity.

8. Angle Measurement

An image of a clipboard with a page that reads

Introduce the protractor and show students how to use it to measure angles. Provide practice problems for them to work on, such as measuring the angles in different shapes.

  • Have students use rulers and pencils to create angles and measure them with a protractor.
  • Use chenille stems and have students create and measure angles.
  • Use grid paper and let students write their names in block letters. Have them measure and the measurements on each angle.
  • Give students angle task cards to sort and measure.

9. Create a Quiz

Have students create a quiz of 5-10 questions related to angles and angle vocabulary to quiz  a classmate. Use a question from each student-created quiz to create a whole-class review/practice test either on paper or on an online quiz with Quizizz .

10. Make Angle Anchor Charts

Have your students create their own Angles anchor chart.  The assignment should include acute, right, obtuse, and straight angles with definitions and drawings.  Give a piece of chart paper and some markers to groups of students and let them collaborate to design and create a group anchor chart. Hang the angle anchor charts in your classroom or in the hallway.

Overall, there are many fun and creative ways to teach angles to students. By using a combination of real-life examples, games, art, collaborative activities, and interactive digital resources, you can make angles more accessible, engaging, and FUN for your students.

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