With the right tools and strategies, teaching Geometry can be engaging and effective! From understanding shape attributes to partitioning shapes – read alouds and mentor texts are great tools for developing a deep understanding of the basics of geometry. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of my favorite read alouds and mentor texts for introducing geometry topics in the classroom.
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Introduction to Geometry
This first set of books covers geometry as an overall topic. These are excellent tools for introducing shapes and lines.
- When a Line Bends…A Shape Begins by: Rhonda Gowler Greene
- Windows, Rings, and Grapes-A Look at Different Shapes by: Brian P. Cleary
- Euclid: The Man Who Invented Geometry by: Shoo Raynor
Firstly, When a Line Bends…A Shape Begins is an excellent starting point as a geometry mentor text. This story is a short, rhyming text that tells about lines and shapes. Each page will have students finding shapes in bright, vibrant colors! It is perfect for young ones who are just being introduced to shapes!
Next, Windows, Rings, and Grapes-A Look at Different Shapes is a from the Math is CATegorical series. These books are excellent mentor texts because they provide loads of examples and a funny story line. Not only are they engaging and fun, but they use clear and simple terms and can help connect geometry to your students’ everyday lives.
Lastly, Euclid: The Man Who Invented Geometry is an awesome mentor text for your geometry introduction, especially for older kiddos. It tells a story from 2300 years ago, about Euclid who developed the principles of Geometry. Students will enjoy learning about the origins of geometry and the principles that were created and still used in schools today!
All About Shapes
Now, these geometry mentor texts are all about shapes! First up, are 3 simple books with shapes. These are great for younger students. They are simply and have clear illustrations and labels for each of the shapes!
- Mouse Shapes by: Ellen Stoll Walsh
- Big Box of Shapes by: Wiley Blevins
- Lift the Flap: Math Shapes by: Eddie Reynolds
Next, we have 6 mentor texts about specific shapes in geometry! These books are fun and functional! Students will really enjoy hearing the silly stories and they will help them remember specific shapes and their attributes!
- Round is a Tortilla by: Roseanne Thong
- Squares, Rectangles, and other Quadrilaterals by: David Adler
- A Trapezoid is Not a Dianosaur! by: Suzanne Morris
- Triangles by: David Adler
- If You Were a Quadrilateral by: Molly Cece Barlow Blaisdel
- If You Were a Polygon by: Marcie Aboff
Thirdly, here are three books that feel interactive. These authors tell stories about triangles, quadrangles, and other polygons while encouraging readers to play along. Students will love learning about polygons with these three silly stories!
Additionally, here are my favorite books for older students learning about shapes. These mentor texts will help you tie in 2-D and 3-D shapes, as well as real-world connections that reinforce concepts!
- Mummy Math–An Adventure in Geometry by: Cindy Neushwander
- Captain Invincible and the Space Shapes by: Stuart J. Murphy
- The Shape of Home by: Rashin Kheiriyeh
- Tangled by: Anne Miranda
- We are the Shapes by: Kevin Jenner
All About Parts
Coincidentally, the study of shapes includes some fractions. While fraction skills and concepts have their own domain in math standards, geometry standards require students to understand partitioning and parts of shapes. Students will learn about equal and non-equal parts, half, thirds, and fourths. So, I have included 5 books that focus on parts of shapes. These mentor texts are both geometry and fractions, so, keep them around for your fractions unit!
- A Fraction’s Goal- Parts of a Whole by: Brian P. Cleary
- If You were a Fraction by: Trisha Sue Speed Shaskan
- Fraction Fun by: David Adler
- Fractions in Disguise by: Edward Einhorn
- Give Me Half! by: Stuart J. Murphy
All About Lines
Finally, we have lines and angles. These three books are at three different levels. First, Lines is a simple and straightforward book that shows how lines make up whole things: ” lines make up a whole: a whole square, house, town, city, and universe!” Then, a perfect introduction to lines and angles with Lines, Segments, Rays, and Angles. Concepts such as perpendicular and parallel lines, right and obtuse angles, and much more are explained in this book. And, for your older students, we have an adventure story about a young knight who is sent off to rescue a king. He faces the ultimate challenge in a mysterious castle with a maze of many angles.
- Lines by: Sarvinder Naberhaus
- Lines, Segments, Rays, and Angles by: Claire Piddock
- Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland
After learning about lines, students can begin to look for lines of symmetry. I have included two beautifully illustrated books about the concept of symmetry and finding it all around us!
Geometry Resources You May Enjoy:
If you’re looking for resources to teach Geometry in your 2nd-grade classroom, I have three, complete units for you!
These second-grade standards-based geometry units focus on the Common Core math standards 2.G.1, 2.G.2, and 2.G.3. There are daily lesson plans, whole group activities, partner practice activities, MATH group centers, exit slips, and assessments in each unit. It is everything you need!
