The Greedy Triangle

The Greedy Triangle
Written by: Marilyn Burns
Illustrated by: Gordon Silveria
Published by: Scholastic Inc. 1994
Grades: 1-3
Genre: Science Fiction, Math

Synopsis: This book tells the story of the greedy triangle.  After becoming bored with the triangle shape that he is, the shape shifter turns the triangle into other shapes.  This book tells the science of the types of shapes and incorporates magic behind the changing of the number of lines and angles it is made up of.   

Theme/Skill: Shape Knowledge, Change, Greed, Polygons, Geometry

About the Author: Marilyn Burns

Marilyn has taught children, led in-service workshops, written professional development publications for teachers and administrators, and has created staff development videotapes for more than 40 years.  She is the creator of Math Solutions Professional Development which is for Grades K-8 math instruction.  She continues to teach in the classroom to develop new testing ideas and materials to use.  She also is a published author and illustrator of children’s book including Spaghetti and Meatballs for All!, Greedy Triangle, About Teaching Mathematics: A K-8 Resource, and I Am Not a Short Adult. 

 Source used: http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/paperbacks/marilynburns/bio.htm

Pre-Reading Activities:  Hand each student a paper triangle and have them write down what they think a triangle is.  Ask questions such as:  What is your definition of a triangle?  How many lines does a triangle have?  How many angles does a triangle have? Go over a bunch of different shapes with the class by teaching them the number of lines and angles that each shape has.  This can be done by using the overhead or an elmo.

Post-Reading Activities:  Have the students make their own shapes out of different materials in the classroom.  They also will draw an object that has this shape, like a tv, a house, etc. and label it what shape it is.  They will use 2 sentences to describe what makes it that shape.  After they decorate them, hang them up around the classroom for the students to make reference to. 
Lesson ideas: http://www.mwpenn.com/lesson-plans/greedy-triangle/

Reflection:  This book is good for children who are starting to learn the polygons.  It is very informative and gives a lot of information for children to try to grasp if they have not already learned the name of the shapes.  It does make it fun for kids since it will not seem like they are learning rather that they are reading a fun book.  I love how it describes the different shapes but just doesn't use a solid form of it but rather examples that you would see in everyday life.  This will help them identify other ones that surround them everyday that they just have not noticed before.